Beverage filling method and apparatus

ABSTRACT

Only a bottle properly preliminarily heated is sterilized by hydrogen peroxide. Temperature inspection to the bottle is performed while travelling the bottle. During the inspection, a bottle of which temperature does not reach a predetermined temperature is removed and a bottle of which temperature reaches the predetermined temperature is continuously traveled, hydrogen peroxide condensed mist α is blown toward a mouth portion  1   a  of the bottle by a spray tube  59  disposed at a predetermined position, and hot air is blown into the bottle from the nozzle while the nozzle  64  following the mouth portion of the bottle. According to such operation, only the bottle properly heated can be sterilized by the hydrogen peroxide, Thereafter, beverage fills the bottle, which is then sealed.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a Divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/993,727 filed Nov.19, 2010, which is a National Stage Entry of International ApplicationNo. PCT/JP2009/059183 filed May 19, 2009, which claims priority fromJapanese Patent Application No. 2008-131978 filed May 20, 2008, JapanesePatent Application No. 2008-334563 filed Dec. 26, 2008, Japanese PatentApplication No. 2009-026035 filed Feb. 6, 2009, Japanese PatentApplication No. 2009-026036 filed Feb. 6, 2009, and finally JapanesePatent Application No. 2009-033813 filed Feb. 17, 2009, the contents ofall of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a beverage filling method forcontinuously performing processes from bottle molding to beveragefilling through bottle sterilization by hydrogen peroxide, and alsorelates to a beverage filling apparatus.

BACKGROUND ART

As a conventional beverage filling apparatus, there is known anapparatus provided with a molding section for molding a bottle from apreform by means of blow molding, a sterilization section forsterilizing the bottle molded in the molding section by mist of hydrogenperoxide, air-rinse section for performing air-rinse treatment to thebottle sterilized in the sterilization section, and a filling sectionfor filling, with beverage, the bottle subjected to the air-rinsetreatment in the air-rinse section and then sealing the bottle, thesesections being continuously coupled.

The apparatus is also provided with drive means for continuouslytraveling the bottle from the molding section to the filling sectionthrough the sterilization section and the air-rinse section, and aportion extending from the molding section to the filling section iscovered by a chamber. According to the beverage filling apparatusmentioned above, the sterilization effect to the bottle by the mist ofthe hydrogen peroxide generated by utilizing heat added in the bottlemolding process (for example, refer to Patent Publication 1).

In addition, there is also known an apparatus in which a bottle moldingsection and a beverage filling section are coupled and covered by aclean room, and a sterilization section is eliminated by supplying apreform in an aseptic state to the molding section (for example, referto Patent Publication 2).

-   Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No.    2006-111295-   Patent Literature 2: Japanese Patent Laid-open HEI 11-291331.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention

The conventional beverage filling apparatus involve the followingproblems.

(1) A process or treatment from the bottle molding process to thebeverage filling process through the bottle sterilization process by thehydrogen peroxide can be continuously performed. However, since all themolded bottles are fed to the sterilization process and the fillingprocess, there is a fear that beverage may fill even defective bottles,which may be then delivered. For example, in a case where the bottlesheated to an insufficient temperature are fed to the sterilizationprocess, the sterilization may be incompletely performed, and suchdefective bottles are filled with the beverage and then delivered. Inaddition, there is also a fear that damaged bottles filled with thebeverage may be delivered.

(2) At a time when the bottles are sterilized and filled with beveragewhile conveying the bottles, shell portions of the bottles may becontacted to each other, and because of this reason, the hydrogenperoxide may insufficiently adhere to the shell portions of the bottles,which results in defective sterilization of the bottles or damage may becaused to the bottles.

(3) In the conventional beverage filling apparatus, the bottle travelingmeans is constructed by train or row of wheels and/or turntables, andfor example, if any trouble is caused to the bottle molding section, allthe wheels and the turntables in the beverage filling apparatus arestopped. However, if all the wheels and the turntables are stopped inoperations, normally molded bottles stay in the sterilization section,so that the hydrogen peroxide excessively adheres to the bottles, whichmay produce defective bottles. Therefore, if the traveling means isstopped by any trouble, all the bottles including normal and defectiveones in the beverage filling apparatus will have to be disposed of, thusproviding a problem.

(4) In the conventional beverage filling apparatus, since the bottlepasses in front of a nozzle through which the hydrogen peroxide mist isejected, there may cause a case where the mist does not spread to everycorner portion of the bottle. Particularly, the mist hardly adheres tothe bottom portion inside the bottle and insufficient sterilization maybe performed to this portion. In order to obviate such defect, in theconventional technology, a plurality of nozzles is arranged along thebottle conveying path to eject a large amount of mists. In suchtechnology, however, a large volume of hydrogen peroxide may beconsumed, thus providing a problem.

In addition, in a case where the travelling speed for feeding thebottles is increased for increasing production efficiency of asepticpackages, it becomes necessary to increase flow rate of the mist, whichwill result in further increasing of the consumption of the hydrogenperoxide. Although this problem may be considered to be solved byblowing the mist into the bottle while following the nozzle to thebottle, if the nozzle ejecting the mist is moved, the mist is liable tobe condensed during the flowing from a mist generating device to thenozzle, and the condensed hydrogen peroxide may drop on the bottle, thusalso providing a problem.

Although the condensation may not occur by lowering the concentration ofthe hydrogen peroxide, in such case, the sterilization effect may bedegraded, thus also providing a problem.

(5) In order to enhance the bottle sterilization effect by applying thehydrogen peroxide mist, it may be desirable to preheat the bottle.However, according to a mold for molding the bottle, there may cause acase where the bottle bottom portion is excessively cooled, and in suchoccasion, insufficiently sterilized bottles may be produced. Suchphenomenon is not limited to a case of utilizing a remaining heat in themolding process and may be caused in a case where hot air is blown to apre-molded bottle, or a bottle is preliminarily heated by approaching aheater to the bottle.

(6) In the conventional beverage filling apparatus, mist of asterilization agent such as hydrogen peroxide is ejected toward thebottle. However, in such technology, the mist adheres to variouscomponents or parts of the beverage filling apparatus and hence corrodesand damages them, thus providing a problem.

(7) In the conventional beverage filling apparatus, although thesterilization performance is enhanced by, for example, utilizingremaining heat in the bottle molding process, heat is easily removed incontact to a guide or like members of the wheel during the bottleconveyance, which may deteriorate the sterilization performance.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a beveragefilling method and apparatus capable of solving the problems encounteredin the conventional art mentioned above.

Means for Solving the Problems

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention adopts thefollowing structures.

Further, although the followings are described with reference numeralson the drawings, the present invention is not limited thereto.

In one exemplary embodiment, a beverage filling method includes: forminga bottle (1) from a heated preform (6) through a blow molding process;inspecting the bottle (1) after the molding; blowing hydrogen peroxidemist (α) or gas (β) to the bottle (1) within a time in which heatapplied to the preform (6) remains after the inspection; and filling thebottle (1) with beverage (a) and sealing the bottle.

In another aspect of a preferred embodiment, it may be possible that thebottle (1) is subjected to an air rinse treatment after the blowing ofthe hydrogen peroxide mist (α) or gas (β) to the bottle (1), and thebottle (1) is then filled with the beverage (a) and sealed.

In another aspect of a preferred embodiment, it may be possible that thebottle (1) is subjected to a rinse treatment with heated aseptic waterafter the blowing of the hydrogen peroxide mist or gas into the bottle,and the bottle is then filled with the beverage and sealed.

In another aspect of a preferred embodiment, it may be possible that thebottle (1) is subjected to a rinse treatment with aseptic water after anair rinse treatment, and the bottle (1) is then filled with the beverage(a) and sealed.

In another aspect of a preferred embodiment, it may be possible that thebottle (1) is subjected to a rinse treatment with aseptic water afterthe air rinse treatment with aseptic air (γ) containing hydrogenperoxide gas (β), and the bottle (1) is then filled with the beverage(a) and sealed.

In another aspect of a preferred embodiment, it may be desired that atravelling path is provided so that the molded bottle (1) iscontinuously travelled to a section at which the sealing of the bottleis performed, the travelling path being formed from a wheel row (36 aand like) around which grippers (28 and like) are arranged, and thebottle (1) is transferred from an upstream side wheel to a downstreamside wheel in a state that a neck portion (1 a) of the bottle (1) isgrasped by the gripper (28 and like) around the respective wheels (36 aand like) while revolving.

In another aspect of a preferred embodiment, it may be desired that allthe steps of molding the bottle (1) from the heated preform (6) throughthe blow molding process to the beverage filling and bottle sealingprocess is performed while continuously travelling the bottle (1), afterthe molding process and before the sterilization process, a temperatureof the bottle (1) to which heat at the preform heating process remainsis inspected, a bottle (1) of which temperature does not reach apredetermined temperature is removed, and only a bottle (1) of whichtemperature reaches the predetermined temperature is sterilized andfilled with the beverage.

In another aspect of a preferred embodiment, it may be possible that theinspection process is performed by inspecting the bottle temperature andimaging a shell portion of the bottle (1).

In another aspect of a preferred embodiment, it may be possible that theinspection process is performed by inspecting the bottle temperature andimaging a bottom portion of the bottle (1).

In another aspect of a preferred embodiment, it may be possible that theinspection process is performed by inspecting the bottle temperature andimaging a top face of a neck portion of the bottle (1).

In another aspect of a preferred embodiment, it may be possible that theinspection process is performed by inspecting the bottle temperature andimaging a support ring of a neck portion of the bottle (1).

Furthermore, an aspect of a preferred embodiment can provide a beveragefilling apparatus comprising: a molding section (7) for molding a bottle(1) from a heated preform (6) through a blow molding process; asterilization section (9) for sterilizing the bottle (1) molded in themolding section (7) with hydrogen peroxide mist (α) or hydrogen peroxidegas (β); and a filling section (10) for filling the bottle (1)sterilized in the sterilization section (9) with beverage (a) and thensealing the bottle (1), in which the molding section, the sterilizationsection and the filling section are coupled with each other, bottletravelling means is disposed for continuously travelling the bottle (1)on a travelling path from the molding section (7) to the filling section(10) through the sterilization section (9), and a portion from thesterilization section (9) to the filling section (10) is covered by achamber, wherein an inspection section (8) for performing apredetermined inspection to the bottle (1) molded in the molding section(7) is disposed between the molding section (7) and the sterilizationsection (9) so as to be coupled therewith, the inspection section (8)including discharging means (53 a and like) for discharging, from thebottle travelling path, a bottle judged as a defective bottle by theinspection, and positive pressure creating means (84 and like) forcreating positive pressure in the inspection section (8) more thanpressures in the molding section (7) and the sterilization section (9),and wherein the travelling means is provided with wheels (19 a and like)disposed in a row from the molding section (7) toward the fillingsection (10) and a gripper (28 and like) turning around the wheels (19 aand like) while gripping the bottle neck portion (1 a) and transferringthe bottle (1) from an upstream side wheel to a downstream side wheel,the gripper being controlled in a travelling speed such that a heatapplied to the preform (6) and remaining to the bottle (1) is maintainedto a temperature necessary for the sterilization of the bottle in thebottle sterilization section (9).

In another aspect of a preferred embodiment, it may be possible that anair rinse section (96) for air-rinsing, with aseptic air (γ), the bottlesterilized in the sterilization section (9) is further disposed betweenthe sterilization section (9) and the filling section (10).

In another aspect of a preferred embodiment, it may be possible that anaseptic water rinse section (91) for rinsing, with heated aseptic water,the bottle (1) sterilized in the sterilization section (9) is furtherdisposed between the sterilization section (9) and the filling section(10).

In another aspect of a preferred embodiment, it may be possible that anaseptic water rinse section (91) is disposed between the air rinsesection (96) and the filling section (10).

In another aspect of a preferred embodiment, it may be possible that air(γ) containing hydrogen peroxide gas (β) is blown against the bottle (1)in the air rinse section (96).

In another aspect of a preferred embodiment, it may be possible that thewheels (36 and like) are sectioned into a desired number of rows, eachof which is driven by an independent servo-motor (S1 and like).

In another aspect of a preferred embodiment, it may be possible that theinspection section (8) is provided with temperature inspection means (46and like) for detecting a temperature of the bottle (1) and judgingquality of the bottle (1).

In another aspect of a preferred embodiment, it may be possible that thegripper (28 and like) travelling in the inspection section (8) iseffected with matte surface treatment.

In another aspect of a preferred embodiment, it may be possible thatgripper interference prevention means (42 and like) is provided forpreventing interference between grippers (28 and 37) at a time ofstopping one of the molding section side wheel (19 b) and the inspectionsection side wheel (36 a) adjacent to the molding section side wheel (19b).

In another aspect of a preferred embodiment, it may be possible that anatmosphere shutoff chamber (79) is disposed between a chamber (8 a) ofthe inspection section (8) and a chamber (9 a) of the sterilizationsection (9), clean air is supplied into the chamber (8 a) of theinspection section (8) by air supply means, and air is discharged fromthe atmosphere shutoff chamber (79) by discharge means.

In another aspect of a preferred embodiment, it may be possible that thedischarge means, for discharging outside the hydrogen peroxide mist orgas from the chamber (9 a) of the sterilization section (9), is disposedat a portion at which the chamber (9 a) of the sterilization section (9)contacts the atmosphere shutoff chamber (79).

In another aspect of a preferred embodiment, it may be possible that anair nozzle (90) forming an air curtain is disposed at a portion at whichthe chamber (9 a) of the sterilization section (9) contacts theatmosphere shutoff chamber (79).

Effects of the Invention

In an aspect of a preferred embodiment, there is provided a beveragefilling method comprising the steps of: forming a bottle (1) from aheated preform (6) through a blow molding process; inspecting the bottle(1) after the molding; blowing hydrogen peroxide mist (α) or gas (β) tothe bottle (1) within a time in which heat applied to the preform (6)remains after the inspection; and filling the bottle (1) with beverage(a) and sealing the bottle. Accordingly, the beverage (a) can fill onlythe bottle (1) which was inspected and judged to be normally molded, andhence, proper beverage packaging can be provided to a market.

In addition, since the hydrogen mist or gas is blown to the bottle (1)in a time when heat applied to the preform (6) remains, the bottle (1)can be sterilized by a small amount of the hydrogen peroxide. In thecase of a PET bottle, although adsorbing amount of the hydrogen peroxideto the bottle wall increases, such adsorption can be prevented. That is,according to experiment of the inventors, the density of the hydrogenperoxide condensed to the surface of the bottle (1) becomes high as highas the temperature of the bottle (1) because of the fact that theboiling point of the hydrogen peroxide is higher than that of water.More specifically, in the case of the bottle temperatures of 50 degrees,65 degrees, 80 degrees, the density of the hydrogen peroxide adhering tothe surface of the bottle is each approximately 70 weight %, 80 weight%, 90 weight %. Since the density of the hydrogen peroxide adhering tothe surface of bacteria increases in addition to high temperature, thebottle (1) can be sterilized by the small amount of the hydrogenperoxide.

In another aspect of a preferred embodiment, in the case the bottle (1)is subjected to an air rinse treatment after the blowing of the hydrogenperoxide mist (α) or gas (β) to the bottle (1), and the bottle (1) isthen filled with the beverage (a) and sealed, even if the bottle (1) isof PET bottle, the remaining hydrogen peroxide can be properly removedfrom the bottle (1), and the following aseptic water rinsing treatment,which requires a large amount of water and large scale of equipment, canbe eliminated.

In another aspect of a preferred embodiment, in the case that the bottle(1) is subjected to a rinse treatment with heated aseptic water afterthe blowing of the hydrogen peroxide mist or gas into the bottle, andthe bottle is then filled with the beverage and sealed, aspergillusspore such as ascomycontina relatively weak to heat can be sterilized bythe aseptic hot water. Thus, beverage which is liable to be corrupted bythe aspergillus spore can fill the bottle, which is then stored.

In another aspect of a preferred embodiment, in the case that the bottle(1) is subjected to a rinse treatment with aseptic water after an airrinse treatment, and the bottle (1) is then filled with the beverage (a)and sealed, the hydrogen peroxide remaining in the bottle (1) can befurther reduced.

In another aspect of a preferred embodiment, in the case that the bottle(1) is subjected to a rinse treatment with aseptic water after the airrinse treatment with aseptic air (γ) containing hydrogen peroxide gas(β), and the bottle (1) is then filled with the beverage (a) and sealed,the sterilization effect to the bottle (1) can be further improved, andthe hydrogen peroxide remaining in the bottle (1) can be furtherreduced.

In another aspect of a preferred embodiment, in the case that atravelling path is provided so that the molded bottle (1) iscontinuously travelled to a section at which the sealing of the bottleis performed, the travelling path being formed from a wheel row (36 aand like) around which grippers (28 and like) are arranged, and thebottle (1) is transferred from an upstream side wheel to a downstreamside wheel in a state that a neck portion (1 a) of the bottle (1) isgrasped by the gripper (28 and like) around the respective wheels (36 aand like) while revolving, the bottle (1) can be smoothly andeffectively sterilized by the hydrogen peroxide within a time when theremaining heat at the time of heating the preform (6) is not cooled evenif the inspection process is interposed. In addition, the bottle (1) canbe fast conveyed into the air rinse section (96) in a time of thehydrogen peroxide not adhering to the bottle wall and the hydrogenperoxide can be prevented from remaining in the bottle (1).

In another aspect of a preferred embodiment, in the case that all thesteps of molding the bottle (1) from the heated preform (6) through theblow molding process to the beverage filling and bottle sealing processis performed while continuously travelling the bottle (1), after themolding process and before the sterilization process, a temperature ofthe bottle (1) to which heat at the preform heating process remains isinspected, a bottle (1) of which temperature does not reach apredetermined temperature is removed, and only a bottle (1) of whichtemperature reaches the predetermined temperature is sterilized andfilled with the beverage, only the bottle (1) of which temperaturereaches to the predetermined temperature can contact the hydrogenperoxide mist α or gas β. Accordingly, the bottle can be promptly andsurely sterilized, and in addition, the using amount of the hydrogenperoxide can be reduced. Even if the bottle (1) is made of PET, which isliable to easily adsorb the hydrogen peroxide, the remaining of thehydrogen peroxide can be reduced.

In another aspect of a preferred embodiment, in the case that theinspection process is performed by inspecting the bottle temperature andimaging a shell portion of the bottle (1), the beverage (a) can fillonly the bottle (1) which is properly molded.

In another aspect of a preferred embodiment, in the case that theinspection process is performed by inspecting the bottle temperature andimaging a bottom portion of the bottle (1), the beverage (a) can fillonly the bottle (1) which is properly molded.

In another aspect of a preferred embodiment, in the case that theinspection process is performed by inspecting the bottle temperature andimaging a top face of a neck portion of the bottle (1), the causing ofdefective sealing of the bottle (1) by the capping can be prevented.

In another aspect of a preferred embodiment, in the case that theinspection process is performed by inspecting the bottle temperature andimaging a support ring of a neck portion of the bottle (1), the beverage(a) can fill only the normal bottle (1) to which any burr or injury isformed.

In another aspect of a preferred embodiment, there is provided abeverage filling apparatus comprising: a molding section (7) for moldinga bottle (1) from a heated preform (6) through a blow molding process; asterilization section (9) for sterilizing the bottle (1) molded in themolding section (7) with hydrogen peroxide mist (α) or hydrogen peroxidegas (β); and a filling section (10) for filling the bottle (1)sterilized in the sterilization section (9) with beverage (a) and thensealing the bottle (1), in which the molding section, the sterilizationsection and the filling section are coupled with each other, bottletravelling means is disposed for continuously travelling the bottle (1)on a travelling path from the molding section (7) to the filling section(10) through the sterilization section (9), and a portion from thesterilization section (9) to the filling section (10) is covered by achamber,

wherein an inspection section (8) for performing a predeterminedinspection to the bottle (1) molded in the molding section (7) isdisposed between the molding section (7) and the sterilization section(9) so as to be coupled therewith, the inspection section (8) includingdischarging means (53 a and like) for discharging, from the bottletravelling path, a bottle judged as a defective bottle by theinspection, and positive pressure creating means (84 and like) forcreating positive pressure in the inspection section (8) more thanpressures in the molding section (7) and the sterilization section (9),and

wherein the travelling means is provided with wheels (19 a and like)disposed in a row from the molding section (7) toward the fillingsection (10) and a gripper (28 and like) turning around the wheels (19 aand like) while gripping the bottle neck portion (1 a) and transferringthe bottle (1) from an upstream side wheel to a downstream side wheel,the gripper being controlled in a travelling speed such that a heatapplied to the preform (6) and remaining to the bottle (1) is maintainedto a temperature necessary for the sterilization of the bottle in thebottle sterilization section (9).

Furthermore, the travelling means for conveying the bottle (1) to thefilling section (10) from the molding section (7) is provided withwheels (19 a and like) disposed in a row from the molding section (7)toward the filling section (10) and a gripper (28 and like) turningaround the wheels (19 a and like) while gripping the bottle neck portion(1 a) and transferring the bottle (1) from an upstream side wheel to adownstream side wheel, the gripper being controlled in a travellingspeed such that a heat applied to the preform (6) and remaining to thebottle (1) is maintained to a temperature necessary for thesterilization of the bottle in the bottle sterilization section (9), andaccordingly, even in the interposing of the inspection section (8), thebottle (1) can be promptly fed to the sterilization section (9) so asnot to cool the remaining heat at the heating time of the preform (6)and to suitably sterilize the bottle by the hydrogen peroxide. Thus, thebeverage packaging properly sterilized can be provided to the market.

In addition, since the bottle (1) is conveyed by gripping the bottleneck portion (1 a) by the gripper (28 and the like), the bottles (1) canbe prevented from contacting to each other. This conveying system byusing the gripper (28 and like) is lowered in bio-burden invading intothe sterilization section (9) from the molding section (7) and thesterility assurance level (SAL) of the product can be improved incomparison with the conventional conveying system utilizing air.Furthermore, the deformation, injury, damage and the like can beprevented. Still furthermore, in the conventional system, it is requiredto change a screw or guide used for introducing the bottle into thefilling section from the air conveying path at the time of changing thebottle size, shape and so on in conformity with the size of the bottleshell portion and shape, but according to the present invention, suchworking can be eliminated. Since the shape and size of the bottle neckportion is constant regardless of the shape and size of the bottle body,by adopting the bottle conveying system using the gripper, the screw,guide and like which are required to be disposed in the conventionalsystem can be eliminated in location, and the exchanging working or likeworking can be also eliminated.

Furthermore, since the positive pressure creating means (84 and like)for creating the positive pressure in the inspection section (8) than inthe molding section (7) and the sterilization section (8) is disposed,the invasion of the bacteria and the hydrogen peroxide into theinspection section (8) can be blocked, and hence, the inspectionequipment or like can be protected from contamination by the bacteria orcorrosion by the hydrogen peroxide.

In another aspect of a preferred embodiment, in the case that an airrinse section (96) for air-rinsing, with aseptic air (γ), the bottlesterilized in the sterilization section (9) is further disposed betweenthe sterilization section (9) and the filling section (10), even if thebottle (1) is made of PET, the remaining hydrogen peroxide can becompletely removed from the bottle (1) by the air rinsing treatment,thus preventing a large amount of water from consuming in the followingprocess and also preventing an aseptic water rinsing treatment requiringa large equipment from installing.

In another aspect of a preferred embodiment, in the case that an asepticwater rinse section (91) for rinsing, with heated aseptic water, thebottle (1) sterilized in the sterilization section (9) is furtherdisposed between the sterilization section (9) and the filling section(10), although it is relatively difficult to perform the sterilizationby the hydrogen peroxide in the sterilization section (9), aspergillusspore such as ascomycontina relatively weak to heat can be sterilized bythe heated aseptic water in the aseptic water rinse section (91). Thus,it is possible to fill the bottle (1) with beverage which is liable tobecome corrupted by the aspergillus sporee, which is then stored.

In another aspect of a preferred embodiment, in the case that an asepticwater rinse section (91) is disposed between the air rinse section (96)and the filling section (10), the hydrogen peroxide remaining in thebottle (1) can be further removed.

In another aspect of a preferred embodiment, in the case that air (γ)containing hydrogen peroxide gas (β) is blown against the bottle (1) inthe air rinse section (96), the sterilization effect to the bottle (1)can be further improved and the hydrogen peroxide remaining in thebottle (1) can be further removed.

In another aspect of a preferred embodiment, in the case that the wheels(36 and like) are sectioned into a desired number of rows, each of whichis driven by an independent servo-motor (S1 and like), since the wheelsarranged in the inspection section (8), the sterilization section (9),the filling section (10) and so on are driven by independentservo-motors (S1 and like), respectively, the respective sections can besynchronously driven.

In another aspect of a preferred embodiment, in the case that theinspection section (8) is provided with temperature inspection means (46and like) for detecting a temperature of the bottle (1) and judgingquality of the bottle (1), it is possible to transfer the bottle (1)having a temperature capable of enhancing the sterilization effect tothe sterilization section.

In another aspect of a preferred embodiment, in the case that thegripper (28 and like) travelling in the inspection section (8) iseffected with matte surface treatment, the reflection of right by thegripper or like can be prevented, thus performing the inspection withhigh accuracy.

In another aspect of a preferred embodiment, in the case that gripperinterference prevention means (42 and like) is provided for preventinginterference between grippers (28 and 37) at a time of stopping one ofthe molding section side wheel (19 b) and the inspection section sidewheel (36 a) adjacent to the molding section side wheel (19 b), thedamage of the gripper can be prevented from causing. In addition, thebottle (1) judged to be normal in the inspection section (8) can beconveyed to the following sterilization section (9) and filling section(10) by continuously revolving the wheels, thus preventing the bottlesfrom wasting. Furthermore, since the bottle (1) can be transferredwithout staying in the sections following the sterilization section (9),a defect such as excessive adhering of the hydrogen peroxide to thebottle (1) can be prevented from causing. Moreover, since the bottle (1)inspected in the inspection section (8) reaches the sterilizationsection (9) with the remaining heat being maintained, the sterilizationcan be suitably performed, thus preventing the bottle (1) from wasting.

In another aspect of a preferred embodiment, in the case that anatmosphere shutoff chamber (79) is disposed between a chamber (8 a) ofthe inspection section (8) and a chamber (9 a) of the sterilizationsection (9), clean air is supplied into the chamber (8 a) of theinspection section (8) by air supply means, and air is discharged fromthe atmosphere shutoff chamber (79) by discharge means, the hydrogenperoxide can be prevented from entering the inspection section (8), thuspreventing the equipment in the inspection section (8) from corroding bythe hydrogen peroxide.

In another aspect of a preferred embodiment, in the case that thedischarge means, for discharging outside the hydrogen peroxide mist orgas from the chamber (9 a) of the sterilization section (9), is disposedat a portion at which the chamber (9 a) of the sterilization section (9)contacts the atmosphere shutoff chamber (79), the hydrogen peroxideflowing into the atmosphere shutoff chamber (79) can be further reduced,and the equipment in the inspection section (8) can be appropriatelyprevented form corroding by the hydrogen peroxide.

In another aspect of a preferred embodiment, in the case that an airnozzle (90) forming an air curtain is disposed at a portion at which thechamber (9 a) of the sterilization section (9) contacts the atmosphereshutoff chamber (79), the hydrogen peroxide flowing into the atmosphereshutoff chamber (79) can be further reduced, and the equipment in theinspection section (8) can be appropriately prevented form corroding bythe hydrogen peroxide.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a bottle as a beverage packaging materialmanufactured by a beverage filling apparatus according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view schematically showing a beverage filling apparatusaccording to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3A is a view representing a supply process of a preform to thebeverage filling apparatus.

FIG. 3B is a view representing a supply process of the preform to amolding portion.

FIG. 3C is a view representing a heating process of the preform.

FIG. 3D is a view representing a blow molding process.

FIG. 3E is a view representing a discharge process for taking out abottle from a molding mold.

FIG. 3F is a view representing a gripping a neck portion of the bottleby means of gripper.

FIG. 3G is a view representing a bottle shell inspection process.

FIG. 3H is a view representing a bottle temperature inspection process.

FIG. 3I is a view representing a bottle support ring inspection process.

FIG. 3J is a view representing an inspection process for inspecting atop face of the neck portion of the bottle.

FIG. 3K is a view representing a bottle bottom portion inspectionprocess.

FIG. 3L is a view representing a bottle sterilization process by usingcondensed mist of hydrogen peroxide.

FIG. 3M is a view representing a bottle air-rinsing process.

FIG. 3N is a view representing a beverage filling process.

FIG. 3O is a view representing a sealing process by means of capping.

FIG. 4 is a plan view schematically showing a gripper, together with awheel, for conveying the bottle.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of an inspection portion in FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a view showing a portion arrowed with VI-VI line in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a plan view schematically showing a gripper, together with awheel, provided with interference prevention means.

FIG. 8 is a plan view schematically showing a gripper, together with awheel, provided with a defective bottle removing means.

FIG. 9A is a side view showing the defective bottle removing means in anon-operative state.

FIG. 9B is a side view showing the defective bottle removing means in anoperating state.

FIG. 10 is a front view of a mist generation device which is partiallycut away.

FIG. 11 is a front view of an air-rinse device which is partially cutaway.

FIG. 12 is an explanation view showing positive pressure creating meansand shown from arrowed direction XII-XII in FIGS. 2 and 13.

FIG. 13 is a plan view representing a beverage filling apparatusaccording to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14A is a view representing an air-rinsing process performed by thebeverage filling apparatus shown in FIG. 13.

FIG. 14B is a view representing a hot water rinsing process performed bythe beverage filling apparatus shown in FIG. 13.

FIG. 15A is a plan view showing an opened state of a pair of clampingpieces of the gripper which inverts the bottle upside down.

FIG. 15B is a plan view showing a closed state of a pair of clampingpieces of the gripper which inverts the bottle upside down.

FIG. 16 is partially cutaway view showing a cam device for turningupside down the gripper shown in FIGS. 15A and 15B.

FIG. 17 is a plan view of the air-rinse device, partially cut away, ofthe beverage filling apparatus shown in FIG. 13.

FIG. 18 is a schematic plan view, like FIG. 7, representing anotherexample of the interference prevention means.

FIG. 19 is a schematic elevational view representing a further exampleof the interference prevention means.

FIG. 20A is a view representing a blow molding process in a beveragefilling method relating to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20B is a view representing a bottle temperature inspection process.

FIG. 20C is a view representing a bottle sterilization process by meansof condensed mist of hydrogen peroxide.

FIG. 20D is a view representing a bottle air-rinsing process.

FIG. 20E is a view representing a bottle hot water rinsing process.

FIG. 21 is a schematic plan view representing a beverage fillingapparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 22 is a schematic plan view representing a beverage fillingapparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 23 is a schematic plan view representing a beverage fillingapparatus according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

EXPLANATION OF REFERENCE NUMERAL

-   1 - - - bottle-   1 a - - - neck portion of bottle-   1 d - - - top face-   5 - - - support ring-   6 - - - preform-   7 - - - molding section-   8 - - - inspection section-   8 a, 9 a - - - chamber-   9 - - - sterilization section-   10 - - - filling section-   14 a - - - turntable-   19 a, 19 b, 36 a - - - wheel-   28, 37 - - - gripper-   42 - - - piston ring-   45, 48, 50, 52 - - - camera-   46 - - - temperature sensor-   53 a - - - movable cam-   85 - - - blower-   79 - - - atmosphere shutoff chamber-   90 - - - air nozzle-   96 - - - air-rinse section-   97 - - - heater-   a - - - beverage-   w - - - hot water-   α - - - hydrogen peroxide condensed mist-   β - - - hydrogen peroxide gas-   γ - - - aseptic hot air-   S1 - - - servo-motor

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereunder, exemplary modes for embodying the present invention will bedescribed.

First Embodiment 1

First, a beverage packaging body manufactured by a beverage fillingapparatus of the present invention will be described. The beveragepackaging body is provided, as shown in FIG. 1, with a bottle 1 as acontainer and a cap 2 as a lid. In FIG. 1, a letter “a” denotes abeverage filling the bottle 1.

The bottle 1 has a shell portion substantially in a circularlycylindrical shape, but another cylindrical shape may be adopted. Abottom portion of the shell portion is closed and a neck portion 1 ahaving a circular opening is formed to an upper portion of the shellportion.

The neck portion 1 a of the bottle 1 is formed with a male threadedportion 3 and, on the other hand, a female threaded portion 4 is formedto the cap 2. When these male and female threaded portions 3 and 4 arescrew-engaged, the opening of the neck portion 1 a of the bottle 1 issealed. Furthermore, the neck portion 1 a of the bottle 1 is providedwith a support ring 5 below the male threaded portion 4, and asmentioned hereinafter, the bottle 1 is held by the gripper through thesupport ring 5 and travelled in the beverage filling apparatus.

The bottle 1 is formed by blow-molding a PET preform 6 having anapproximately test tube as mentioned hereinafter. However, the bottle 1may be formed from a resin material such as polypropylene orpolyethylene other than the PET. The preform 6 is molded through aninjection molding process or like and is provided with a test tubeshaped body portion and a neck portion 1 a like that of the bottle 1.This neck portion 1 a is formed with the male threaded portion at thesame time of the formation of the preform 6.

The cap 2 is formed of a resin such as polyethylene or polypropylenethrough the injection molding process, and the female threaded portion 4is also formed at the same time of the molding of the cap 2.

The beverage filling apparatus for filling the bottle 1 with beverage“a” will be explained hereunder.

As shown in FIG. 2, this beverage filling apparatus is provided with amolding section 1 for molding the bottle 1, an inspection section 8 forinspecting the molded bottle 1, a sterilization section 9 forsterilizing the bottle 1, an air-rinse section 96 for air-rinsing thebottle 1, and a beverage filling section 10 for filling the bottle 1with the beverage “a” and sealing the same.

The bottle molding section 7 is entirely covered with a chamber 7 a,which is provided with a supply port for the preform 6 and a dischargeport for the bottle 1.

A preform supply machine 11 is installed near the chamber 7 a of themolding section 7. A plurality of preforms 6, each shown in FIG. 3A, ischarged into the preform supply machine 11. The preform supply machine11 serves to supply the preforms 6 one by one by a preform conveyer 12into the molding section 7 through the supply port in a standingattitude with the neck portion 1 a directed upward as shown in FIG. 3A.

Since the preform supply machine is per-se known machine, detailsthereof are omitted herein.

As shown in FIG. 2, within the chamber 7 a of the molding section 7,there are arranged an upstream side wheel row, a downstream side wheelrow, and a turntable row disposed between the upstream side anddownstream side wheel rows.

The upstream side wheel row includes a stating end wheel 13 a, as ahorizontal wheel, connected to the preform conveyer 12. A plurality ofgrippers, not shown, for gripping the neck portions 1 a of the preforms6 are arranged at a constant pitch around the starting end wheel 13 a.These grippers are rotated in accordance with the rotation of thestarting end wheel 13 a, and each of the preforms 6 supplied from thepreform conveyer 12 is gripped at a portion near the support ring 5 bythe gripper and is then conveyed to an intermediate wheel 13 b.

The intermediate wheel 13 b is arranged in a standing attitude, and anumber of forks, not shown, are disposed at a constant pitch around theintermediate wheel 13 b. This intermediate wheel 13 b serves to rotatethe preform 6 in an inverted state by rotating upward the preform afterreceiving the preform in a manner such that the forks of theintermediate wheel 13 b clamp the preform 6 gripped by the gripper ofthe starting end wheel 13 a at a portion lower than the support ring 5.The final end wheel 13 c is a horizontal wheel having a gripper as likeas the starting end wheel 13 a, and the preform 6 inverted by theintermediate wheel 13 b is gripped and received by the gripper.

The row of the turntables includes annularly arranged six turntables 14a, 14 b, 14 c, 14 d, 14 e and 14 f, between which an endless chain 15 isstretched. The endless chain 15 extends and forms a circular path aroundthe third turntable 14 c. Such extended circular portion of the chain 15travels in the heating chamber 16 disposed inside the chamber 7 a. Thischain 15 continuously runs in one direction shown with an arrow in FIG.2 together with the first to six turntables 14 a, 14 b, 14 c, 14 d, 14 eand 14 f.

A number of mandrels 17 are coupled with the chain 15 at constant pitchas shown in FIG. 3B. The mandrel 17 may travel in an inverted attitudeon the turntables 14 a to 14 f while being pulled by the chain 15.Further, the mandrel 17 is supported on the chain 15 to be rotatablearound its axis.

The first turntable 14 a is coupled with the final end wheel 13 c in theupstream side wheel row, and the mandrel 17 enters, as shown in FIG. 3B,the neck portion of the inverted preform 6 held by the gripper of thefinal end wheel 13 c and then receives the preform 6.

As shown in FIG. 3C, a heater 16 a is mounted on a wall surface of theheating chamber 16. The mandrel 17 receiving the preform 6 travels alongthe heater 16 a in the heating chamber 16, and the preform 6 held by themandrel 17 is heated by the heater 16 a as shown in FIG. 3C. Accordingto this heating, the temperature of the preform 6 increases to atemperature by which the blow molding can be performed. The respectivemandrels 17 revolve together with the preforms 6 during their running bythe contact of flanged portions thereof to rails, not shown. Therefore,a portion of the preform 6 lower than the neck portion 1 a thereof isheated more uniformly.

Around the fifth turntable 14 e, a number of blow molding molds 18 aredisposed at constant pitch. The blow molding molds 18 are rotatable inaccordance with the rotation of the fifth turntable 14 e.

The blow molding mold 18 is splittable into a lateral pair of halves,and when the heated preform 6 is transferred from the fourth turntable14 d, the split blow molding mold halves camp the preform 6 togetherwith the mandrel 17 as shown in FIG. 3D while rotating around the fifthturntable 14 e. A through hole is formed at the central portion of themandrel 17, and a blow nozzle 19 is inserted into this through holetoward the preform 6. Then, the bottle 1 is molded inside the mold 18 byblowing gas such as air into the preform 6 from the blow nozzle 19.

The splittable blow molding mold 18 is opened when approaching the sixthturntable 14 f to thereby release the bottle 1. The bottle 1 releasedfrom the blow molding mold 18 is fed to the first turntable 14 a throughthe sixth turntable 14 f in a state being held by the mandrel 17 asshown in FIG. 3E.

The starting end wheel 19 a in the downstream side wheel row isconnected to the first turntable 14 a mentioned above, and the final endwheel 19 b contacts a discharge port of the chamber 7 a of the moldingportion 7.

When the bottle 1 held by the mandrel 17 reaches as shown in FIG. 3E bythe rotation of the first turntable 4 a, the starting end wheel 19 agrips the bottle 1 by the gripper 90 as shown in FIG. 3F and pulls offthe bottle from the mandrel 17, and thereafter, the bottle 1 is invertedvertically so as to take a normal standing attitude.

The final end wheel 19 b has a gripper 28 as shown in FIG. 4. Thisgripper 28 is provided with a pair of clamp pieces 28 a, 28 b clamingthe neck portion 1 a of the bottle 1 from the outer side thereof. Thepaired clamp pieces 28 a and 28 b are formed with base portions,respectively, which are supported by vertical pins to be rotatable.Further, a pair of gears 30 a, 30 b which are engageable with each otherare fixed to the base portions through the vertical pins. In addition,one of the gears 30 b is coupled with a cam follower 31 a through alever 31, and the other one of the gears 30 a is coupled with the wheel19 b through a lever 32 and a spring 33. According to pulling force ofthe spring 33, a pair of clamp pieces 30 a and 30 b are always urged ina direction to be opened. Further, a cam 34 to which the cam follower iscontacted is fixed to a frame, not shown, inside the wheel 19 b.

Accordingly, when the wheel 19 is rotated, the gripper 28 serves to openthe paired clamp pieces 28 a and 28 b through the sliding motion betweenthe cam follower 31 a and the cam 34 to thereby receive and then clampthe neck portion 1 a of the bottle 1 from the gripper 28, and then thegripper 1 is turned toward the next inspection section 8 whilemaintaining the suspended state of the bottle 1. When the gripper 28reaches to the inspection section 8, the paired clamp pieces 28 a and 28b are opened by the sliding motion between the cam follower 31 a and thecam 34 and transfer the bottle 1 to the wheel row on the inspectionsection side.

When the gripper 28 of the final end wheel 19 b receives the bottle 1from the gripping member 98 of the start end wheel 19 a, the gripper 28grips the bottle 1 at a portion below the support ring 5 of the neckportion 1 a of the bottle 1 as shown in FIG. 6, and the bottle 1 isconveyed in this state.

As shown in FIG. 2, the bottle inspection section 8 is connected to thebottle molding section 7. This inspection section 8 is entirely coveredby the chamber 8 a. As shown in FIG. 12, a bottle passing port 35 a isformed to the partition wall 35 disposed between the molding section 7and the chamber 7 a thereof.

As shown in FIG. 2, the wheel row to be coupled with the final end wheel19 b as a travelling means of the bottle 1 on the molding section sideis connected to the inside of the chamber 8 a of the inspection section8. More specifically, this wheel row includes three wheels 36 a, 36 b 36c, and a bottle travelling path is set to the outer peripheries of thesewheels. Further, grippers 28 having the same structure of the gripper 28of the final end wheel 19 b is disposed around to each of these threewheels 36 a, 36 b and 36 c. These grippers 28 grip the neck portions 1 aof the bottles 1 around the wheels 36 a, 36 b and 36 c, respectively,and then turn around, and during this motion, the bottle 1 istransferred to the final end wheel 36 c from the start end wheel 36 athrough the intermediate wheel 36 b. Thus, the bottles 1 continuouslytravel on the travelling path around the wheels 36 a, 36 b and 36 c inthe inspection section 8 from the final end wheel 19 b in the moldingsection 7. During this travelling, since the clamp pieces 28 a and 28 bclamp the neck portion 1 a of the bottle 1, the bottle 1 is conveyed inthe suspended state. As shown in FIG. 6, the gripper 28 grips the neckportion 1 a of the bottle 1 at a portion above the support ring 5 at thestart end wheel 36 a, grips the neck portion 1 a of the bottle 1 at aportion below the support ring 5 at the intermediate wheel 36 b, andgrips the neck portion 1 a of the bottle 1 at a portion above thesupport ring 5 at the final end wheel 36 c, and in this manner, thebottle 1 is conveyed in the inspection section 8 from the upstream sidetoward the downstream side.

Gripper interference preventing means is disposed to the start end wheel36 a in the inspection section 8 contacting to the final end wheel 19 bon the bottle molding section 7 side for the purpose of preventinginterference between the gripper 28 mounted to the final end wheel 19 bon the molding section side and the gripper 28 of the start end wheel 36a of the inspection section side at a time when the turntable or wheelon the bottle molding section side is emergently stopped.

As shown in FIG. 7, a gripper 37 of the start end wheel 36 a in theinspection section 8 has a structure different from the gripper 28because of the provision of the gripper interference preventing means.

That is, as shown in FIG. 7, a plurality of grippers 37 are mounted tothe start end wheel 36 a in the inspection section 8 at a predeterminedpitch, and each of the grippers 37 has a pair of clamp pieces 37 a and37 b for clamping the neck portion 1 a of the bottle 1 from the outerside thereof, and base portions of the paired clamp pieces 37 a, 37 bare supported to be pivotal to the wheel 36 a by means of vertical pins,respectively, and a pair of mesh gears 38 a and 38 b are fixed to thebase portions of these clamp pieces 37 am 37 a by means of verticalpins.

Furthermore, a cam follower 39 a is coupled with one of the gears 38 athrough one end of a lever 39, and one of the clamp pieces 37 a iscoupled with the other end of the lever 39 opposing to the cam follower39 a through a pin 40 a and a circular-arc-shaped slot 40 b. On theother hand, the other clamp piece 37 b is formed integrally with theother gear 38 b, and the clamp piece 37 b is coupled with a piston rod42 a of a piston-cylinder assembly 42 through a pin 41 a and acircular-arc-shaped slot 41 b. The piston-cylinder assembly 42 issupported by the wheel 36 a.

A torsion spring, not shown, is disposed between the gears 38 a, 38 band the wheel 36 a, and a pair of clamp pieces 37 a and 37 b is alwaysurged in the closing direction by the twisting force of the torsionspring. Further, the cam follower 39 a is also always pushed against thecam 43.

According to the structure or arrangement mentioned above, when thestart end wheel on the inspection side is rotated, the gripper 37 opensthe paired clamp pieces 37 a and 37 b and receives the neck portion 1 aof the bottle 1 from the gripper 28 of the final end wheel on themolding section side. Thereafter, the neck portion 1 a of the bottle 1is clamped and turned with the bottle 1 being maintained in itssuspended state. The clamp pieces 37 a and 37 b are rotated in theopening direction against the twisting force of the torsion spring, andin this instance, the respective pins 40 a and 41 a are slid in thecircular-arc-shaped slits 40 b and 41 b, respectively.

By the way, there may be caused a case where some abnormality is causedon the side of the molding section 7, and the turntable row or wheel rowis emergently stopped. In such occasion, as shown in FIG. 7, the pistonrod 42 a of the piston-cylinder assembly 42 is contracted, therebywidening the closed paired clamp pieces 37 a and 37 b to about 180degrees opened position. Accordingly, the interference between thegripper 28 mounted to the final end wheel 19 b on the molding sectionside and the gripper 37 mounted to the start end wheel 36 a can beprevented from causing. In this case, the start end wheel 36 a and thesubsequent wheel row of the wheel 36 b are being rotated, so that thebottle 1 introduced into the inspection section 8 is continuouslytravelled toward the downstream side.

Further, the gripper interference preventing means is not limited to thestructure mentioned above, and as shown in FIG. 18, there may be adopteda slide structure in which the gripper 37 is reciprocally slid in theradial direction of the wheel 36 a. In FIG. 18, reference numeral 99denotes a holding member holding the gripper 37, and a piston rod 100 aof a piston-cylinder assembly 100 is connected to the holding member 99.The piston-cylinder assembly 100 is fixed to the wheel 36 a along theradial direction thereof.

In an occasion in which when any abnormal event is generated on themolding section side and the turntable row and the wheel row on themolding section side are emergently stopped, as shown in FIG. 18, thepiston rod 100 a of the piston-cylinder assembly 100 is contracted andthe gripper 37, which protrudes outward in the radial direction of thewheel 36 a, is pulled inward in the radial direction. According to suchmotion, the interference between the gripper 28 mounted to the final endside wheel 19 b on the molding section side and the gripper 37 of thestart end wheel 36 a on the inspection section side can be prevented.

Further, for the gripper interference preventing means shown in FIG. 18,when the piston rod 100 a is contracted, the cam 43 operating foropening or closing the paired clamp pieces 37 a, 37 b of the gripper 37is moved in the axial direction of the wheel 36 a by an actuation ofanother piston-cylinder assembly, for example, and accordingly, the cam43 is moved so as to escape to a position not abutting against the camfollower 39 a.

Further, as the gripper interference preventing means, as shown in FIG.19, a rotating mechanism for rotating the gripper 37 in the verticaldirection of the wheel 36 a may be employed. The gripper 37 is coupledwith a hinge 101 to be rotatable in the vertical direction with respectto the wheel 36 a and is then coupled with a wheel 103 which isintegrally rotatable with the wheel 36 a through a piston-cylinderassembly 102.

In an occasion in which when any abnormal event is generated on themolding section side and the turntable row and the wheel row on themolding section side are emergently stopped, as shown in FIG. 22, thepiston rod 102 a of the piston-cylinder assembly 102 is expanded and thegripper 37, which protrudes outward in the radial direction of the wheel36 a, is rotated downward as the hinge 101 being a fulcrum point.According to this motion, the interference between the gripper 28mounted to the final end side wheel 19 b on the molding section side andthe gripper 37 of the start end wheel 36 a on the inspection sectionside can be prevented. Further, in FIG. 19, reference numeral 104denotes a machine table supporting a swivelling shaft 105 of the wheels36 a and 103.

Further, in the embodiment described above, the structure in which thegripper 37 is pivoted downward was employed, a structure in which thegripper is pivoted upward may be employed.

As shown in FIG. 3G and FIG. 5, a lamp 44 as lighting means and a camera45 as imaging pick-up means are disposed at predetermined positionsaround the start end wheel 36 a in the chamber 8 a of the inspectionsection 8, and the lamp 44 and the camera 45 are arranged as bottleshell portion inspection means discriminating the quality of the bottleby imaging a circular or rectangular cylindrical shell portion of thebottle 1.

Irradiation light from the lamp 44 penetrates the shell portion of thebottle 1 and the camera 45 receives the irradiation light and thenimages the bottle 1. The pick-up image of the shell portion of thebottle 1 is processed by an image processing device, not shown, so as todiscriminate whether any abnormality such as injury, foreign material,discoloration or like is caused or not.

As shown in FIGS. 3H, 3I, 3J and 3K, and FIG. 5, a temperature sensor46, a lamp 47 and a camera 48, a lamp 49 and a camera 50, and a lamp 51and a camera 52 are arranged in the described order along theintermediate wheel 36 b disposed in adjacent to the start end wheel 36a. The temperature sensor 46 constitutes temperature inspection meanswhich detects a temperature of the bottle 1 and discriminates thequality of the bottle 1. The lamp 47 as lighting means and the camera 48as imaging means constitute support ring inspection means which imagesthe support ring 5 of the neck portion 1 a of the bottle 1 anddiscriminates the quality of the bottle 1. The lamp 49 as lighting meansand the camera 50 as imaging means constitute bottle neck portion upperface inspection means which images the flat and smooth ring-shaped faceof the neck portion 1 a of the bottle 1 and discriminates the quality ofthe bottle 1. The lamp 51 as lighting means and the camera 52 as bottlebottom portion inspection means which images the bottom portion of thebottle 1 and discriminates the quality of the bottle 1.

The respective means mentioned above may be altered in the arrangementorder and in the positions, or may be optionally eliminated in location,or another inspection means may be optionally added.

The temperature sensor 46 is, for example, an infrared radiationthermometer, but another thermometer may be employed. The temperaturesensors 46 are disposed so as to oppose to the support ring 5 of theneck portion 1 a of the bottle 1 and the bottom portion thereof,respectively, as shown in FIG. 3H.

The bottle 1 travels around the start end wheel 36 a and theintermediate wheel 36 b at a predetermined speed while maintaining theremaining heat at the molding section 7 and being gripped by the gripper28, and the temperature of the bottle surface is detected during thistravelling. The remaining heat of the bottle 1 is necessary forappropriately sterilizing the bottle 1 with hydrogen peroxide in thelatter stage, and it is desirable that the temperature of the bottlesurface to be detected by the temperature sensor 46 is more than 50° C.

In the temperature detection mentioned above, when at least either oneof the temperatures detected by two portions of the bottle 1 by twotemperature sensors 46 does not reach the predetermined temperature, itis discriminated that the detected bottle 1 is defective one. That is,the bottle 1 of which temperature does not reach the predeterminedtemperature may have possibility of being insufficiently sterilized evenby the hydrogen peroxide sterilization in the latter stage. On thecontrary, the bottle 1 of which temperature reaches the predeterminedtemperature can be sufficiently sterilized by the hydrogen peroxidesterilization performed in the latter stage.

The two portions of the bottle 1 of which temperatures are to bedetected are portions having thick resin thickness and which are liableto cause cold spots. However, the temperature sensors 46 may be arrangedto portions other than the two portions mentioned above, and thelocating number may be changed in accordance with the shape and size ofthe bottle 1, the kind of the molding (injection) mold or like. Forexample, the temperature sensor 46 may be disposed only to the portionopposing to the bottom portion of the bottle 1 at which a cold spot isliable to be caused.

Furthermore, since the heat of the thin portion of the bottle 1 isliable to escape in comparison with the thickened portion thereof, thetemperature sensor 46 may be disposed so as to oppose to the thinthickness shell portion of the bottle 1. According to this arrangement,only the bottle 1 maintaining the remaining heat minimally necessary forthe sterilization of the bottle in the latter stage may be transferredto the sterilization section 9.

As shown in FIG. 3I and FIG. 5, the lamp 47 as the support ringinspection means is annularly disposed above the support ring 5 of theneck portion 1 a of the bottle 1. More specifically, the lamp 47 iscomposed of LED (light emitting diode) disposed annularly. The camera 48is arranged so as to receive the light of the lamp 47 reflected by theupper surface of the support ring 5, thus the support ring 5 beingimaged. At this time, since the clamp pieces 28 a, 28 b of the gripper28 grip the neck portion 1 a at the lower portion of the support ring 5,as shown in FIG. 6, the imaging operation to the support ring 5 cannotbe obstructed by the clamp pieces 28 a, 28 b of the gripper 28. Theupper surface condition of the support ring 5 is specifically inspectedby this support ring inspection means.

The image of the support ring 5 picked up by the camera 48 is processedby the image processing device, not shown, and it is discriminatedwhether any abnormality such as injury, deformation or like may beexist. caused, Because the support ring 5 may be contacted or touched bya customer who obtains the bottle 1 as a beverage bottle when the capthereof is opened, the existence of any injury or deformation is notdesirable, and a bottle 1 having injury or deformation of an extentbeyond allowance is judged as defective product.

As shown in FIG. 3J and FIG. 5, the lamp 49 as the bottle neck portionupper face inspection means is annularly arranged above the upper (top)face 1 d of the bottle neck portion 1 a. More specifically, the lamp 49is composed of LED (light emitting diode) disposed annularly. The camera50 is arranged so as to receive the light of the lamp 49 reflected bythe upper face 1 d of the support ring 5, thus the upper face 1 d of thesupport ring 5 being imaged. The image of the upper face 1 d picked upby the camera 50 is processed by the image processing device, not shown,and existence of abnormality such as injury, deformation or like isdiscriminated. The upper face 1 d of the bottle neck portion 1 a is aportion for sealing the interior of the bottle 1 in contact of thisupper face 1 d of the bottle neck portion 1 a to the ceiling portion ofthe cap 2 (see FIG. 1), so that the upper face 1 d of the bottle neckportion 1 a is required to be flat and smooth. Because of this reason, abottle 1 detected to have injury or deformation is judged to be adefective product.

As shown in FIG. 3K and FIG. 5, the lamp 51 as the bottle bottom portioninspection means is annularly arranged below the bottom portion of thebottle 1. More specifically, the lamp 49 is composed of LED (lightemitting diode) disposed annularly. The camera 52 is arranged so as toreceive the light of the lamp 49 passing through the bottom portion ofthe bottle 1, thus the bottom portion of the bottle 1 being imaged. Theimage of the bottom portion of the bottle 1 picked up by the camera 52is processed by the image processing device, not shown, and existence ofabnormality such as injury, deformation or like is discriminated.

Further, although not shown, the gripper 28 travelling inside theinspection section 8 is effected with a matte surface working. Accordingto this surface working, inspection miss due to reflection ofirradiation light from the respective lamps 47, 49 and 51 to the gripper28 can be prevented from causing. In addition, a peeping (inspection)hole, not shown, is formed to the chamber 8 a of the inspection section8, and a muffled glass is fitted to the peeping hole so that outsidelight is prevented from entering inside the chamber 8 a.

The final end wheel 36 c contacting the intermediate wheel 36 c from thedownstream side thereof is provided, as shown in FIG. 8, with a gripper28 of the structure similar to the gripper 28 of the intermediate wheel36 b. When the final end wheel 36 c is rotated, due to the slide-contactfunction between the cam follower 31 a and the cam 53, the gripper 28opens the paired clamping pieces 28 a, 28 b so as to clamp the bottleneck portion 1 a after receiving the neck portion 1 a of the bottle 1from the gripper 28 of the intermediate wheel 36 b, and then, swivelsbottle 1 to the subsequent sterilization section 9 while holding thebottle in the suspended attitude. When the gripper 28 reaches thesterilization section 9, the paired clamp pieces 28 a, 28 b are openedby the slide-contact function between the cam follower 31 a and the cam53, and then, the bottle 1 is transferred to the wheel on thesterilization section side. The cam 53 is fixed to a stationary frame,not shown, disposed inside the final end wheel 36 c.

The final end wheel 36 c is provided with discharge means fordischarging the bottle 1, which was judged as defective product by theinspection in the inspection section 8, from the bottle travelling path.

The discharge means has a gripper releasing mechanism such as shown inFIGS. 8 and 9. The gripper releasing mechanism includes an additionalcam follower 31 b further added to the pivot shaft 54 of the camfollower 31 a and having a shape similar to the cam follower 31 a, andanother additional cam follower 55 contacting the additional camfollower 31 b and being different partially in shape, the additional camfollower 55 being disposed below the cam 53. Furthermore, the gripperreleasing mechanism further includes a movable cam 53 a as one portionseparated from the cam 53 to be movable.

The movable cam 53 a is inserted into a portion partially cut out fromthe stationary cam 53 to be slidable in the radial direction thereof,and is coupled with a piston rod 56 a of a piston-cylinder assembly 56coupled with the frame, not shown, at a portion inside the wheel 36 c.Further, a recessed portion 55 a, into which the additional cam follower31 b is fitted, is formed to a portion of the additional cam 55corresponding to the movable cam 53 a.

The discharge means is further provided with a cylindrical shooter fordischarging the defective bottle denoted by the reference numeral 57 inFIGS. 2 and 5.

When a signal representing that the bottle 1, which is judged asdefective product by the inspection section 8, is defective, isgenerated, the piston-cylinder assembly in the expanded state as shownin FIG. 9A is contracted as shown in FIG. 9B, and the movable cam 53 ais retired in the radially inside direction of the cam 53. Accordingly,the additional cam follower 31 b is invaded into the recessed portion 55a of the additional cam 55, and the paired clamp pieces 28 a, 28 b ofthe gripper 28 are opened as shown with solid line from the closed stateshown with two-dot-chain-line, thus releasing the defective bottle 1.The bottle 1 as defective product drops down from the gripper 28, andthen transferred to a predetermined collecting section through theshooter 57. The bottle 1 judged to be a good product passes through thedischarge means, because the movable cam 53 a is held at the positionshown in FIG. 9A, and then is transferred to the sterilization section9.

As shown in FIG. 2, the sterilization section 9 is connected to thebottle inspection section 8. The bottle sterilization section 9 is alsoentirely covered with the chamber 9 a.

The wheel row coupled with the final end wheel 36 c as bottle travellingmeans on the inspection section side is provided inside of the chamber 9a of the sterilization section 9. More specifically, this wheel row iscomposed of two wheels 58 a, 58 b, and a bottle travelling path isformed around outer peripheral portions of these wheels 58 a, 58 b.Grippers 28, each having a structure similar to that of the gripper 28shown in FIG. 4, are disposed around these wheels 58 a and 58 b,respectively.

The gripper 28 transfers the bottle 1 from the start end wheel 58 a tothe final end wheel 58 b while gripping the bottle neck portion 1 a andswivelling around these wheels. According to such motion, the goodbottle 1 after the inspection is continuously travelled on thetravelling path from the final end wheel 36 c in the inspection section8 towards the final end wheel 58 b in the sterilization section 9. Thegripper 28 grips the bottle neck portion 1 a by the clamp pieces 28 aand 28 b during the travelling of the bottle 1, and the bottle 1 ishence travelled in the vertically suspended state.

A spray tube 59 as condensed mist supply means for supplying condensedmist α of the hydrogen peroxide as a sterilizing agent for the bottle 1is disposed to a predetermined portion around the intermediate wheel 58b contacting from the downstream side to the start end wheel 58 a in thechamber 9 a of the sterilization section 9 as shown in FIG. 3L. Thespray tube 59 is fixed to a predetermined position so that a front endformed with a nozzle hole of the spray tube 59 directly faces theopening of the neck portion 1 a of the good bottle 1 travelling justbelow the nozzle hole.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 3L, a tunnel 60 may be formed along thebottle travelling path below the spray tube 59 as occasion demands.

One or a plurality of the spray tube 59 may be disposed, which isarranged along the outer periphery of the intermediate wheel 58 b. Inthe shown embodiment, although the spray tube 59 is disposed around theintermediate wheel 58 b, the spray tube 59 may be arranged around theother wheel.

The condensed mist α of the hydrogen peroxide is produced by condensingthe hydrogen peroxide sprayed and heated by the mist producing device 61shown in FIG. 10.

This mist producing device 61 is provided with a hydrogen peroxidesupply unit 62 as two-fluid spray for supplying solution of the hydrogenperoxide, in form of drops, as sterilizing agent and a vaporizer 63 forheating the sprayed mist of the hydrogen peroxide supplied from thehydrogen peroxide supply unit 62 to a temperature more than boilingpoint and less than undecomposed temperature thereof and then gasifyingit.

The hydrogen peroxide supply unit 62 sprays the solution of the hydrogenperoxide into the vaporizer 63 by introducing the solution through ahydrogen peroxide supply path 62 a and a compressed air through acompressed air supply path 62 b.

The vaporizer 63 is composed of a pipe including a heater 63 ainterposed between inner and outer wall sections thereof, and serves toheat and vaporize the spray mist of the hydrogen peroxide sprayed intothe pipe. The vaporized hydrogen peroxide gas is jetted, as condensedmist α toward the opening of the neck portion 1 a of the bottle 1through a spray nozzle 59.

The bottle 1 is conveyed around the wheel 58 b with the neck portion 1 abeing directed upward, and the lower end of the spray tube 59 is openedtoward the neck portion 1 a of the bottle 1 at the portion above thebottle travelling (conveying) path. The condensed mist α of the hydrogenperoxide supplied into the spray tube 59 is continuously blown towardthe bottle neck portion 1 a through the nozzle hole formed to the lowerend of the spray tube 59. The thus blown condensed mist α flows into thebottle 1 from the neck portion 1 a of the travelling bottle 1 andsterilizes the inner surface of the bottle 1, and the other condensedmist α of the hydrogen peroxide flows outside of the bottle 1 so as tosterilize the outer surface of the bottle 1. At this instance, since thebottle 1 travels in the tunnel 60, the condensed mist α can be uniformlysupplied to the outer surface of the bottle 1.

As shown in FIG. 2, an air rinse section 96 for the bottle 1 isconnected to the sterilization section 9 for the bottle 1. This airrinse section 96 is entirely covered with a chamber 96 a.

In the chamber 96 a, wheel row coupled with the final end wheel 58 b asthe travelling means for the bottle 1 on the sterilization section sideis provided, as shown in FIG. 2. More specifically, this wheel rowincludes four wheels 58 c, 58 d, 58 f and 92 a, and a bottle travellingpath is formed around the outer peripheries of these wheels. Further,around these wheels 58 d, 58 d, 58 e and 92 a, grippers 28 similar tothe gripper 28 shown in FIG. 7 are arranged.

The grippers 28 swivel around the respective wheels 58 c, 58 d, 58 e and92 a with the neck portions 1 a of the bottles 1 being gripped and thentransfer the bottles 1 from the start end wheel 58 c to the final endwheel 92 a subsequently. According to such motion, the good bottlesafter the inspection continuously travel on the travelling path from thefinal end wheel 58 b in the sterilization section 9 to the final endwheel 92 a in the air rinse section 96. Since each of the grippers 28grips the neck portion 1 a of the bottle 1 during the travelling thereofby the clamp pieces 28 a and 28 b, the bottle 1 is travelled in thevertically suspended state.

Air rinse means for cleaning the bottle 1 by supplying aseptic heatedair or normal temperature air to the bottle 1 is further disposed aroundan intermediate wheel 58 c in the next stage contacting to theafore-mentioned intermediate wheel 58 b from the downstream sidethereof.

This air rinse means is provided with a nozzle 64 for jetting an asepticair γ or normal temperature air as shown in FIG. 3M and FIG. 11.

As shown in FIG. 11, the wheel 58 c rotated by the power from apredetermined drive source is mounted horizontally to a swivelling shaft66 standing upward from the machine table 65. A column 66 a extendsupward from the surface of the wheel 58 c, and a manifold 67 into whichthe heated air γ flows is fixed to the upper end portion of the column66. A conduit 68 extends upward on a line extending from the axis of theswivelling shaft 66 at the upper central portion of the manifold 67, andthe conduit 68 is held through a bearing 69 to a frame member of thechamber 9 a connected to the machine table 65. Accordingly, the manifold67 is rotatable around the swivelling shaft 66 integrally with the wheel58 c.

In addition, another column 70 extends upward from the surface of thewheel 58 c, and the gripper 28 of the bottle 1 is attached to the upperportion of the column 70. A plurality of such columns 70 and grippers 28are arranged around the wheel 58 c at predetermined pitches,respectively. These grippers 28 are coupled with the wheel 58 c throughthe columns 70 so as to be rotatable in accordance with the rotation ofthe wheel 58 c.

These grippers 28 have substantially the same structures as those shownin FIG. 4. Further, in a case when any inconvenience is caused to themist generating device 61 of the sterilization section 9 or like and abottle 1 defective in sterilization effect is caused, a mechanismsimilar to the discharge means shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 for removing thedefective bottle from the travelling path may be disposed. In FIG. 2,reference numeral 71 denotes a shooter for dropping the bottle 1defective in sterilization effect to be removed from the bottletravelling path.

Heated air supply tubes 72 for supplying the heated air γ extend from aportion around the manifold 67 toward the grippers 28, respectively, andthe nozzles 64 are mounted to the front end portions of the supply tubes72. The nozzles 64 are fixed to the columns 70 and the nozzle holesformed to the front ends of the nozzles 64 are directed to the openingsof the neck portions 1 a of the bottles 1 held by the grippers 28.According to this arrangement, when the wheel 58 c is rotated, thenozzle 64 is also rotated around with the swivelling shaft 66 togetherwith the bottle 1 held by the gripper 28 so as to blow the heated air γinto the bottle 1.

Another stationary conduit 74 is connected to the upper end portion ofthe conduit 68 of the manifold 67 through a seal member 75. The conduit68 is rotated integrally with the manifold 67 with respect to theconduit 74, and the seal member 75 prevents the heated air γ fromleaking through the connection portion between both the conduits 68 and75.

Furthermore, a hot air supply device composed of a blower 76, an ultralow penetration air (ULPA) filter 77 and an electric heater 78 isdisposed on the upstream side of the conduit 75. The air blown from theblower 76 is cleaned by the ULPA filter 77, heated by the electricheater 78 to a predetermined temperature, and fed into the conduit 74 asthe heated air γ. This heated air γ is an aseptic air, which was heated,for example, to a temperature of more than 100° C. The heated air γ thenreaches the manifold 67 and blows outward into the bottles 1 through thenozzles 64 of the heated air supply tubes 72, respectively, or blowsoutside the bottles 1.

A tube (pipe) line extending from the conduit 74 to the nozzle 64through the manifold 67 is formed to have a length as short as possible,and accordingly, the heated air γ can reach the bottle 1 without beingcondensed.

When the heated air γ is blown into the bottle 1 from the nozzle 64, theheated air γ uniformly contacts to the entire inner surface of thebottle 1 and removes extra amount of the hydrogen peroxide blown fromthe spray tube 59.

Further, it may be desired that the heated air γ is blown for a timeduring which the condensed mist α of the hydrogen peroxide floating inthe inner space of the bottle 1 can be entirely exhausted. In a casewhere the temperature of the heated air γ is more than a resistingtemperature for the bottle 1, if the blowing time is so long, the bottle1 is heated to a temperature over the resisting temperature, which mayresult in deformation of the bottle. Thus, in such case, a cautionshould be paid.

Furthermore, as occasion demands, it may be possible to gasify thehydrogen peroxide by mixing the condensed mist α of low density hydrogenperoxide to aseptic air of normal temperature in place of the heated airγ and to supply the gasified hydrogen peroxide so as not to becondensed.

As mentioned above, by supplying the sterilized heated air γ into thebottle 1 and performing the air rinse treatment, the bottle 1 can beheated from the inner surface thereof, and the sterilizing effect by thecondensed mist α of the hydrogen peroxide can be enhanced.

In the illustrated embodiment of the present invention, although thenozzle 64 serves to blow the heated air γ into the bottle 1 from theoutside of the bottle 1, the nozzle 64 may be disposed to be verticallymovable to be invaded into the bottle 1 when the heated air γ is blowninto the bottle 1.

The travelling speed of at least the gripper 28 arranged at a portionbetween the start end wheel 36 a of the inspection section 8 to thefinal end wheel 92 a in the sterilization section 9 is controlled to aspeed so that the heat remaining in the bottle at the bottle formingperiod in the molding section 7 is maintained to an extent necessary forthe sterilization of the bottle 1 in the sterilization section 9.

That is, as shown in FIG. 2, a servo-motor S1 is disposed to theinspection section 8 to be driven so as to dynamically interlock thewhole wheels 36 a, 36 b and 36 c in the inspection section 8, and aservo-motor S2 is also disposed to the sterilization section 9 and theair rinse section 96 to be driven so as to dynamically interlock thewhole wheels 58 a, 58 b, 58 c, 58 d, 58 e and 92 a in the sterilizationsection 8 and the air rinse section 9. By controlling these servo-motorsS1 and S2, the travelling speed of the gripper 28 is regulated, and as aresult, the bottle 1 gripped by the gripper is conveyed to a portiondirectly below the spray tube 59 in a state that the remaining heat inthe bottle 1 at the bottle molding time is maintained to an extentnecessary for the sterilization in the sterilization section 9. Further,the bottle 1 into which the condensed mist α of the hydrogen peroxide isblown from the spray tube 59 in the sterilization section 9 promptlyreaches the air rinse section 96.

Further, it may be desired that the temperature of the bottle 1 directlybelow the spray tube 59 is maintained to be more than 50° C. forproperly attaining the sterilization effect by the condensed mist α ofthe hydrogen peroxide. Especially, the bottle neck portion 1 a, thethickened portion such as bottle bottom portion, and a portion, such asbottle bottom portion, to which it is hard for the condensed mist toreach, are portions hard to be sterilized. However, for the bottle 1just after being molded, these portions are in the highly heated state,so that preferably high sterilization effect can be attained by thesmall amount of condensed mist α.

That is, according to the experiment performed by the inventors of thepresent application, it was found that the density of the hydrogenperoxide condensed on the surface of the bottle 1 becomes higher as thetemperature of the bottle 1 becomes high. This is considered that thehydrogen peroxide has a boiling point higher than that of water. Moreconcretely, in the cases of the bottle temperatures of 50° C., 65° C.and 80° C., the densities (weight %) of the hydrogen peroxide adheringto the surface of the bottle 1 were about 70%, 80% and 90%. Since thedensity of the hydrogen peroxide adhering to the sterilizing agent(hydrogen peroxide) on the surface of the bottle increases in additionto the increased temperature, the bottle can be sterilized by the smallamount of hydrogen peroxide.

In the beverage filling apparatus of the present embodiment, there isprovided positive pressure creating means for creating positive pressurein the inspection section 8 more than pressures in the molding section 7and the sterilization section 9.

That is, as shown in FIG. 12, an atmosphere shutoff chamber 79 isdisposed between the chamber 8 a of the inspection section 8 and thechamber 9 a of the sterilization section 9. In addition, a partitionwall 35 is also disposed between the chamber 7 a of the molding section7 and the chamber 8 a of the inspection section 8, and the partitionwall 35 is formed with a bottle passing hole 35 a through which thebottle 1 can pass. Partition walls 80 and 81 of the structure similar tothat of the partition wall 35 are disposed, respectively between thechamber 8 a of the inspection section 8 and the atmosphere shutoffchamber 79 and between the atmosphere shutoff chamber 79 and the chamber9 a of the sterilization section 8. Furthermore, a partition wall 82 ofthe structure similar to that of the above mentioned partition wall isdisposed so as to separate the portion at which the condensed mist α ofthe hydrogen peroxide is sprayed from the spray tube 59 from the portionat which a hydrogen peroxide gas β is jetted.

An air supply duct 83 is connected to the chamber 8 a of the inspectionsection 8 as air supply means for supplying the cleaned air, and an airsupply blower 84, a filter 85 and a heater 97 are provided for this airsupply duct 83. The air is heated by the heater 97, and the heated aircontacts the bottle 1 travelling in the chamber 8 a, so that the bottle1 is protected from being cooled, or is further heated. Incidentally,the heating by the heater 97 may be eliminated if the remaining heat atthe bottle molding time does not substantially effect the sterilizationin the sterilization section 9.

By blowing the cleaned air into the chamber 8 a of the inspectionsection 8 by the air supply means, a positive pressure state such as of3 Pa higher than atmospheric pressure is created in the chamber 8 a ofthe inspection section 8.

An air exhaust duct 86, as air exhaust means, is coupled with theatmosphere shutoff chamber 79, and an air exhaust blower 87 and a filter88 are provided for this air exhaust duct 86. Another air exhaust duct89 may be coupled with a portion adjacent to the atmosphere shutoffchamber 79 in the chamber 9 a of the sterilization section 9, asoccasion demands, and this air exhaust duct 89 is connected to theexhaust duct 86 coupled with the atmosphere shutoff chamber 79.According to the location of the air exhaust means, the interior of theatmosphere shutoff chamber 79 is maintained at a pressure of 0 Pa (zeroPa) substantially equal to the atmospheric pressure.

Furthermore, an air supply duct as supply means, not shown, forsupplying the cleaned air is coupled with a chamber 10 a of a fillingsection which will be mentioned herein later, and the air supply blowerand the filter are provided for this air supply duct. By the location ofsuch air supply means, the cleaned air is blown into the chamber 10 a ofthe filling section 10 at a pressure of approximately 20 to 100 Pa. Thiscleaned air flows into the chamber 9 a of the sterilization section 9through the chamber 96 a of the air rinse section 96, and creates thepositive pressure (about 10 Pa) state in the chamber 9 a of thesterilization section 9. Thereafter, the cleaned air flows outward ofthe chamber 9 a of the sterilization section 9 and the atmosphereshutoff chamber 79 through the duct 89 of the chamber 9 a and the duct86 of the chamber 79, respectively.

Further, the interior of the chamber 7 a of the molding section 7 ismaintained at 0 Pa approximately equal to the atmospheric pressure.

The partition wall 81 disposed between the atmosphere shutoff chamber 79and the chamber 9 a of the sterilization section 9 is formed with abottle passing hole 81 a and an air nozzle 90 for shutting off thepassing hole 81 a with air curtain may be disposed as occasion demands.

By the location of such positive pressure creating means, the condensedmist α and the gas β of the hydrogen peroxide flowing into the chamber 9a of the sterilization section 9 are exhausted externally of the chamber9 a through the duct 89, and on the other hand, the cleaned airintroduced into the chamber 8 a of the inspection section 8 flows towardthe chamber 7 a of the molding section 7 and the atmosphere shutoffchamber 79, thus preventing contaminated air and air containing thehydrogen peroxide from entering the chamber 8 a of the inspectionsection 8. Furthermore, even if the air is sucked into the chamber 8 aof the inspection section 8 from the chamber 7 a of the molding section7 in accordance with the travelling of the bottle 1, such air isprevented from entering the chamber 9 a of the sterilization section 9by the exhaust gas from the atmosphere shutoff chamber 79, thusappropriately preventing the contamination in the sterilization section.

As shown in FIG. 2, the filling section 10 is coupled with the air rinsesection 96 and entirely covered with a chamber 10 a. A partition wall,not shown, is disposed between the chamber 96 a of the air rinse section96 and the filling section 10, and this partition wall is formed with abottle passing hole through which the bottle 1 passes.

The chamber 10 a of the beverage filling section 10 is connected, asshown in FIG. 2, to a wheel row coupled with the final end wheel 92 a asthe bottle travelling path on the air rinse section side.

More specifically, this wheel row includes four wheels 94 c, 94 d, 94 eand 94 f, and a bottle travelling path is formed to the outerperipheries of these four wheels. Grippers 28 similar to those shown inFIG. 4 are arranged around the wheels 94 c, 94 d, 94 e and 94 f,respectively.

Inside the chamber 10 a of the beverage filling section 10, the bottles1 are transferred from the start end wheel 94 c to the final end wheel94 f while grippers 28 turning around these wheels with the bottle neckportions 1 a being held. According to such motion, the bottles 1 can becontinuously travelled in the beverage filling section 10 from the startend wheel 94 c to the final end wheel 94 f. Each of the grippers 28grips the neck portion 1 a of the bottle 1 by its clamp pieces 28 a and28 b in the vertically suspended attitude of the bottle 1 during thebottle travelling.

A beverage filling machine is placed to a predetermined position aroundthe start end wheel 94 c, having a larger diameter, in the chamber 10 aof the beverage filling section 10. As shown in FIG. 3N, the beverage“a”, which was preliminarily subjected to the sterilization process,fills the bottle 1 through the nozzle 95 of the beverage fillingmachine. This nozzle 95 is travelled in synchronous with the travellingof the bottle 1, and a constant amount of the beverage “a” fills thebottle 1 during the parallel travelling with the bottle 1.

A capper is arranged to a predetermined position around the intermediatewheel 94 e downstream side of the beverage filling machine. As shown inFIG. 3O, the cap 2 is mounted to the neck portion 1 a of the bottle 1 bymeans of this capper, thus sealing the bottle 1.

The bottle 1 filled up with the beverage “a” and then sealed by the cap2 is released from the gripper 28 of the final end wheel 94 f anddischarged outside of the beverage filling machine through an outletformed to the chamber 10 a.

Further, since these beverage filling machine and the capper are knownones, the detailed explanation thereof is omitted herein.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2, the beverage filling section 10 isprovided with two servo-motors S5 and S6 driven so as to be dynamicallyinterlocked in a predetermined combination of the wheels 94 c, 94 d, 94e and 94 f inside the beverage filling section 10. The first serve-motorS5 of these two servo-motors serves to drive the start end wheel 94 caround which the beverage filling machine is disposed, and the secondservo-motor S6 serves to drive the wheels 94 d, 94 e and 94 f disposeddownstream side of the intermediate wheel 94 c.

According to the arrangement described above, even if the wheels and thegrippers in the respective sections of the inspection section 8, thesterilization section 9, the air rinse section 96 and the beveragefilling section 10 have the structures different from each other, thesynchronous driving of the grippers can be achieved by controlling theservo-motors S1, S2, S5 and S6, and hence, the bottles 1 can be smoothlycontinuously travelled into the beverage filling section 10 from themolding section 7.

Further, in the described embodiment, although the molding section 7 isdriven by a known electric motor, not shown, the wheels and theturntable in the molding section 7 may be driven by a servo-motor.

Hereunder, the operation of the beverage filling apparatus of thestructures mentioned above will be described.

(1) First, a preform 6 shown in FIG. 3A is prepared. The preform 6 issubjected to the injection molding, and thereafter, is fed to a preformsupply machine 11 of the beverage filling apparatus of the presentinvention. The preform 6 is fed into the molding section 7 by means ofconveyer 12 of the preform supply machine 11.

(2) The preform conveyed in a vertically standing state by the conveyer12 as shown in FIG. 3A is transferred to the gripper of the start endwheel 13 a continuously rotating in the molding section 7, and is theninverted in attitude by the gripper of the intermediate wheel 13 b.

The inverted preform 6 is covered to the mandrel 17 of the first turntable 14 a from the neck portion 1 a, as shown in FIG. 3B.

The mandrel 17 covered with the preform 6 is, as shown in FIG. 3C,travelled, while revolving, inside the heating chamber 16, and thepreform 6 is also continuously travelled, while revolving with themandrel 17, in the heating chamber 16. Accordingly, the preform 6 can beuniformly heated to a temperature capable of being subjected to theblow-forming.

(3) The heated preform 6 is clamped, as shown in FIG. 3D, by theblow-forming molds 18, and air is blown into the preform 6 through theblow nozzle 19 penetrating the mandrel 17 to thereby form the bottle 1in the mold 18.

The molded bottle 1 is taken out of the mold 18 together with themandrel 17 by opening the mold halves, and as shown in FIG. 3E, thebottle 1 is conveyed to the first turntable 14 a in the inverted statethrough the sixth turntable 14 f.

(4) The bottle 1 held by the mandrel 17 at the first turntable 14 a isgripped as shown in FIG. 3F, by a gripping member 98 of the start endwheel 19 a and inverted so as to take the normal vertical attitude. Inthis operation, the gripping member 98 grips a portion of the bottle 1above the support ring 5 of the neck portion 1 a. Subsequently, thebottle 1 is received by the gripper 28 of the final end wheel 19 b asshown in FIG. 4. The gripper 28 grips, at this time, the portion lowerthan the support ring 5 of the bottle neck portion 1 a as shown in FIG.6.

(5) Then, the gripper 37 of the start end wheel 36 a of the inspectionsection 8 grips a portion upper than the support ring 5 of the bottleneck portion 1 a and receives the bottle 1 from the final end wheel 19 bof the molding section 7, and the bottle 1 swivels while being held bythe gripper 37.

During this swivelling operation, as shown in FIG. 3G, the shell portionof the bottle 1 is inspected by the bottle shell portion inspectionmeans. In this inspection, the image of the shell portion of the bottlepicked up by the camera 45 is processed by the image processing device,not shown, and it is discriminated whether any abnormality such asinjury, foreign material, discoloration or like exists.

(6) The bottle 1 is then transferred from the gripper 37 of the startend wheel 36 a to the gripper 28 of the intermediate wheel 36 b, and thegripper 28 of the intermediate wheel 36 b grips the lower side of thesupport ring 5 of the bottle neck portion 1 a and swivels as shown inFIG. 3H and FIG. 6.

During this swivelling motion, as shown in FIG. 3H, the temperature ofthe bottle 1 is detected by the temperature sensor 46 of the temperaturedetecting means. In this temperature detection, if the detectedtemperature does not reach 50° C., it is discriminated that this bottle1 is a defective product.

(7) Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 3I, the surface condition of thesupport ring 5 of the bottle 1 is inspected by the support ringinspection means. In this inspection, the image of the upper face of thesupport ring 5 picked up by the camera 48 is processed by the imageprocessing device, not shown, and it is discriminated whether anyabnormality such as injury, foreign material, discoloration or likeexists.

(8) Subsequent to the support ring inspection, as shown in FIG. 3J, thesurface condition of the upper face 1 d of the bottle neck portion 1 ais inspected by the bottle neck portion upper face inspection means. Inthis inspection, the image of the upper face 1 d of the bottle neckportion 1 a picked up by the camera 50 is processed by the imageprocessing device, not shown, and it is discriminated whether anyabnormality such as injury, foreign material, discoloration or likeexists.

(9) Subsequent to the bottle neck portion upper face inspection, asshown in FIG. 3K, the bottom condition of the bottle 1 is inspected bythe bottle bottom portion inspection means. In this inspection, theimage of the bottom portion of the bottle 1 picked up by the camera 52is processed by the image processing device, not shown, and it isdiscriminated whether any abnormality such as injury, foreign material,discoloration or like exists.

(10) The bottle 1 subjected to the above respective inspections is heldby the gripper 28, shown in FIG. 8, of the final end wheel 36 c of theinspection section 8. In an event that an abnormal signal informing anoccurrence of an abnormality is generated from any one of the respectiveinspection means, as shown in FIG. 9, the gripper releasing mechanism isoperated, and a pair of clamping pieces 28 a and 28 b of the gripper 28is moved from the closed position shown with two-dotted-chain line tothe opened position shown with solid line to thereby release thedefective bottle 1.

According to such operation, the defective bottles 1, to which anyabnormal condition is caused to the shell portion, the bottom portion,the neck upper face 1 d and the support ring 5 of the bottle 1, aredischarged (rejected) from the bottle travelling path, and the bottles1, which are not subjected to sufficient sterilization effect by thehydrogen peroxide even if heated in the subsequent sterilizationprocess, are also discharged (rejected) from the travelling path.

On the other hand, the good bottles 1 pass through the bottledischarging means, because the movable cam 53 a is held to the positionshown in FIG. 9A, and move toward the sterilization section 9.

(11) The good bottle 1 is transferred from the gripper 28 of the finalend wheel 36 c of the inspection section 8 to the gripper 28 of thestart end wheel 58 a of the sterilization section 9, and then,transferred to the gripper of the wheel disposed downstream side, thusbeing continuously travelled.

When the good bottle 1 is travelled around the intermediate wheel 58 bwhile being held by the gripper 28, the good bottle 1 travels directlybelow the spray tube 59 as shown in FIG. 3L. Accordingly, the condensedmist α of the hydrogen peroxide jetted from the spray tube 59 is brownagainst the bottle 1 to thereby sterilize the inner and outer surfacesof the bottle 1. As mentioned above, since the good bottles 1 havingproper remaining heat are only travelled, these bottles 1 can beproperly sterilized by the condensed mist α of the hydrogen peroxide,and thereafter, are travelled toward the downstream side.

(12) The bottle 1 blown with the condensed mist α of the hydrogenperoxide in the sterilization section 9 is travelled around theintermediate wheel 58 c while being held by the gripper 28. During thistravelling, the heated air γ is brown through the nozzle 64 as shown inFIG. 3M. Accordingly, the inner and outer surfaces of the bottle 1 canbe cleaned through the air rinse process to thereby remove the excessivehydrogen peroxide adhering to the inner and outer surfaces of the bottle1.

Further, it is desired that the bottle 1 blown with the condensed mist αof the hydrogen peroxide from the spray tube 59 at the sterilizationsection 9 reaches inside the air rinse section 96 within 0.1 to 5.0second, and in a case of less than 0.5 second, sufficient sterilizationeffect will not be expected because of too short sterilizing time, andon the contrary, in a case of more than 5.0 seconds, the hydrogenperoxide will intrude inside the inner layer of the PET wall, and theremaining amount of the hydrogen peroxide will increase, which willrequire location of such aseptic water rinse section 91 as mentionedhereinafter with respect to a second embodiment.

Test result exhibiting ground of the above matter will be shownhereunder.

The inventors of the present application measured the sterilizationeffects and remaining hydrogen peroxide density with respect to B.subtilis spore by using a PET bottle of 500 mL volume. The measuredresults are shown in the following table (Table 1).

TABLE 1 From hydrogen peroxide spray Log Reduction (LR) NO. to air-rinse0.5 sec 2 sec 5 sec 1 Remaining 0.3 ppm 0.4 ppm 0.9 ppm hydrogenperoxide Judgment ∘ ∘ x 2 Log reduction 4.5 Log   6 Log  >6 Log Judgmentx ∘ ∘ Total judgment x ∘ x

Evaluation method to the measurement was as follows.

Sterilization Effects (Log Reduction)=Log(Number of AdheringBacteria/Number of Survived Bacteria)

Index Bacteria: B. subtilis var. niger ATCC9372

Remaining Hydrogen Peroxide Density Measurement: Measured by OxygenElectrode Method

Sterilizing Process: A bottle was taken out from a blow injection mold,condensed mist of hydrogen peroxide was sprayed to the bottle, and airrinse treatment was performed.

The hydrogen peroxide was supplied by 30 μL. The condensed mist of thehydrogen peroxide was sprayed within 30 seconds after the separation ofthe bottle from the mold. This is because the high sterilization effectby the hydrogen peroxide is obtained as high as the temperature of thebottle after the separation from the mold, and if the heat escapes fromthe bottle and the bottle is cooled, the hydrogen peroxide is condensedon the PET wall surface of the bottle and is likely adsorbed into thePET inner layer.

As is apparent from the Table 1, after 2 seconds from the spraying ofthe hydrogen peroxide, when the air rinsing process is initiated, theremaining hydrogen peroxide becomes less than 0.5 ppm and thesterilization effect becomes more than 6 Log.

(13) As shown in FIG. 12, the positive pressure creating means isarranged on the way of the travelling path of the bottle 1 which istravelled from the molding section 7 to the sterilization section 9, andaccordingly, the excessive amount of the mist α of the hydrogen peroxideflowing into the chamber 9 a of the sterilization section 9 isdischarged outside of the chamber 9 a through the ducts 86 and 89, andon the other hand, the cleaned air flowing into the chamber 8 a of theinspection section 8 flows toward the chamber 7 a of the molding section7 and the atmosphere shutoff chamber 79 to thereby prevent thecontaminated air or air containing hydrogen peroxide from flowing intothe chamber 8 a of the inspection section 8.

Furthermore, even if the air is pulled into the chamber 8 a of theinspection section 8 from the chamber 7 a of the molding section 7 inaccordance with the travelling of the bottle 1, this air is preventedfrom entering into the chamber 9 a of the sterilization section 9 by theexhaust from the atmosphere shutoff chamber 79, thus effectivelypreventing the contamination of the interior of the sterilizationsection 9.

(14) During the conveyance of the bottle 1 toward the downstream side ofthe sterilization section 9 through the inspection section 8, inoccurrence of an event that any abnormality is caused on the moldingsection 7 and the wheel row on the molding section side emergently stopsin operation, as shown in FIG. 7, the piston rod 42 a of thepiston-cylinder assembly 42 is contracted to thereby open the pairedclamp pieces 37 a, 37 b in the closed state by about 180 degrees.

Accordingly, the interference between the gripper 28 mounted to thefinal end wheel 19 b of the molding section 7 and the gripper 37 mountedto the start end wheel 36 a of the inspection section 8 can beeffectively prevented.

Furthermore, since the start end wheel 36 a and the following wheel roware being continuously rotated, the bottle 1 introduced into theinspection section 8 is continuously travelled downstream side.Accordingly, the normally formed bottle 1 is subjected to the inspectionin the inspection section 8 and the bottle 1 passing through theinspection section 8 is travelled toward the sterilization section 9,thus the bottle being processed laconically. Moreover, even if themolding section 7 stops in operation, since the respective sectionsfollowing the inspection section 8 can be operated, the bottle 1 can becontinuously travelled through the sections following the sterilizationsection 9, thus preventing the excessive adhering of the hydrogenperoxide due to the stopping of the bottle in the sterilization section9 and also preventing the insufficient sterilization due to the coolingof the bottle 1, and accordingly, the only the normal bottles 1 can befilled with beverage.

(15) The bottle 1 subjected to the air-rinsing treatment is conveyed tothe beverage filling section 10, and when the bottle is travelled aroundthe wheel 94 c while being gripped by the gripper 28, as shown in FIG.3N, a predetermined amount of the beverage “a” from the beverage fillingmachine is supplied into the bottle 1.

(16) The bottle 1 filled with the beverage “a” is travelled around thewheel 94 e while being gripped by the gripper 28, and at this period, asshown in FIG. 3O, the cap 2 is applied to the bottle neck portion 1 a bythe capper. According to this operation, the bottle 1 is sealed as abeverage packaging bottle.

The bottle 1 as the beverage packaging bottle is then fed out externallyfrom the beverage filling apparatus.

Second Embodiment

A second embodiment of the beverage filling apparatus for filling thebottle 1 with the beverage will be described hereunder.

As shown in FIG. 13, the beverage filling apparatus of this secondembodiment is provided with the bottle molding section 7, the inspectionsection 8 for inspecting the molded bottle 1, the bottle sterilizationsection 9, the bottle air rinse section 96, the bottle aseptic waterrinse section 91, and a beverage filling section 10 for filling thebottle 1 with the beverage “a” and then sealing the bottle 1.

The structure or arrangement ranging from the molding section 7 to thesterilization section 9 are substantially the same as that in the firstembodiment, so that the duplicated explanation is omitted herein.

As shown in FIG. 13, the air rinse section 96 for the bottle 1 iscoupled with the sterilization section 9, and the air rinse section 96is entirely covered with the chamber 96 a.

A wheel row coupled with the final end wheel 58 b, as bottle travellingmeans, on the side of the sterilization section 9 for the bottle 1 isconnected to the inside of the chamber 96 a of the air rinse section 96,as shown in FIG. 13. More specifically, this wheel row includes threewheels 58 c, 58 d and 58 e, around which a bottle travelling path isformed. Further, grippers 28 similar to the grippers 28 shown in FIG. 4are also arranged around these wheels 58 c, 58 d and 58 e.

The grippers 28 grip the neck portions 1 a of the respective bottles 1,and in this state, the bottles 1 are turned around the respective wheels58 c, 58 d and 58 e and then transferred from the start end wheel 58 cto the final end wheel 58 e. Accordingly, the good bottles 1 after theinspection are travelled continuously along the travelling path from thefinal end wheel 36 b in the sterilization section 9 to the final endwheel 58 e in the air rinse section 96. Since the gripper 28 grips theneck portion 1 a of the bottle 1, the bottle 1 is travelled in thevertically suspended attitude.

Air rinse means for cleaning the bottle 1 by supplying the heated air γmixed with the hydrogen peroxide gas β as the sterilizing agent isdisposed around the start end wheel 58 c.

This air rinse means is provided with a nozzle 64 discharging the heatedair γ mixed with the hydrogen peroxide gas β as shown in FIG. 14A andFIG. 17.

As shown in FIG. 17, the wheel 58 c rotating by the power from apredetermined power source is horizontally mounted to the swivellingshaft 66 standing from the machine table 65. Columns 66 a extend upwardfrom the surface of the wheel 58 c and a manifold 67 into which theheated air γ mixed with the hydrogen peroxide gas β is fed is fixed tothe upper end portions of the columns 66 a. A conduit 68 extends upwardon an extension of an axis of the swivelling shaft 66 from the uppercentral portion of the manifold 67, and the conduit 68 is held by aframe member of the chamber 9 a coupled with the machine table 65through a bearing 69. Accordingly, the manifold 67 becomes rotatablearound the swivelling shaft 66 integrally with the wheel 58 c.

Furthermore, other columns 70 extend upward from the surface of thewheel 58 c, and grippers 28 are mounted to the upper end portions of therespective columns 70, and a plurality of columns 70 and grippers 28 aredisposed around the wheel 58 c at predetermined pitches. Since thegrippers 28 are coupled with the wheel 58 c through the columns 70, thegrippers 28 are rotated together with the rotation of the wheel 58 c.

These grippers 28 have substantially the same structures as those shownin FIG. 4.

Furthermore, in an event that any inconvenient matter is caused, forexample, to the mist generation device 61 of the sterilization section 9and an insufficiently sterilized bottle 1 is produced, such bottle 1 isdischarged or rejected from the travelling path by a mechanism asdischarging means of the structure similar to that shown in FIGS. 8 and9. Further, in FIG. 2, reference numeral 71 denotes a shooter forfalling down the insufficiently sterilized bottle 1 to be discharged bythe discharging means from the travelling path.

A plurality of supply tubes 72 for supplying the heated air γ mixed withthe hydrogen peroxide gas β toward the respective grippers 28 extendaround the manifold 67, and the nozzles 64 are formed to the distal endportions of the respective supply tubes 72. Each of the nozzles 64 isfixed to the column 70 and a nozzle opening formed to the distal end ofthe nozzle 64 is directed to the opening of the neck portion 1 a of thebottle 1 held by the gripper 28. According to such arrangement, when thewheel 58 c is rotated, the nozzle 64 is turned around the swivellingshaft 66 together with the bottle 1 held by the gripper 28 and theheated air γ mixed with the hydrogen peroxide gas β is blown into thebottle 1.

A duct 74 a is connected to the upper end of the conduit 68 of themanifold 67 through a seal member 75. The conduit 68 rotates togetherwith the manifold 67 with respect to the duct 74 a, and the seal member75 prevents the hydrogen peroxide gas β from leaking through theconnecting portion between the conduit 68 and the duct 74 a. A pluralityof mist generating devices 61 shown in FIG. 10 is mounted to the duct 74a, and the condensed mist α of the hydrogen peroxide is supplied intothe duct 74 a from the respective mist generating devices 61. The numberof the mist generating devices 61 to be operated will be determined inaccordance with the amount of the hydrogen peroxide gas β required forthe sterilization of the bottle 1.

A hot air supply device composed of a blower 76 and ultra low air filter(ULPA Filter) 77 and a heater 78 is disposed on the upstream side of theduct 74 a. The air introduced through the blower 76 is cleaned by theULPA filter 77 and then heated by the heater 78 to a predeterminedtemperature so as to create the hot air γ, which is then fed into aheating tube 74 a. The heated air γ is an aseptic air heated to atemperature more than a dew point of the hydrogen peroxide, for example,100° C. The heated air γ acts to gasify the condensed mist α of thehydrogen peroxide fed to the mist generation device 61 and conveys thegasified mist to the manifold 67. The heated air γ mixed with thehydrogen peroxide gas β is blown into the bottle 1 from the nozzle 64through each of the supply tubes 72 or is blown out of the bottle 1.

A line from the duct 74 a to the nozzle 64 through the manifold 67 isformed as possible as short, and because of this reason, the hydrogenperoxide gas β is not condensed and reaches the bottle 1 together withthe heated air γ.

When the heated air γ mixed with the hydrogen peroxide gas β is blowninto the bottle 1 from the nozzle 64, the hydrogen peroxide gas βcontacts uniformly the entire inner surface of the bottle 1 to therebypromptly and smoothly sterilize the bottle inner surface.

Further, it is desirable that the density of the hydrogen peroxide gas βto be mixed into the heated air γ is 1 mg/L to 10 mg/L (L: the hydrogenperoxide gas volume in the mixed gas), and more preferably, 2 mg/L to 8mg/L.

As mentioned above, by supplying the sterilized hydrogen peroxide gas βand the heated air γ in the bottle 1 to thereby perform the air rinsetreatment, the bottle 1 is heated from the inner surface thereof, whichenhances the sterilizing effect by the condensed mist α and the hydrogenperoxide gas β. In addition, for example, a bottom portion of the bottle1, which was insufficiently sterilized by the hydrogen peroxidecondensed mist α can be more sufficiently sterilized by the hydrogenperoxide gas β contained in the heated air γ.

Further, the time for blowing the heated air γ containing the hydrogenperoxide gas β will be determined within a range by which all thecondensed mist α of the hydrogen peroxide floating inside the bottle 1can be discharged and the insufficient sterilization by the condensedmist α of the hydrogen peroxide can be compensated for. In the casewhere the temperature of the heated air γ containing the hydrogenperoxide gas β is more than the resisting temperature of the bottle 1,there may cause a case in which the bottle 1 is heated to a temperaturemore than its resisting temperature and is deformed unfairly if theheated air blowing time is too long, and hence, attention should bepaid. The blowing time of this heated air γ containing the hydrogenperoxide gas β may be set to 2 to 5 seconds, for example.

Furthermore, as occasion demands, in place of the heated air γ, thehydrogen peroxide is gasified by mixing the condensed mist of the lowdensity hydrogen peroxide with sterilized air of normal temperature andsuch gasified hydrogen peroxide gas may be supplied to the nozzle 64 soas not to be condensed.

As mentioned above, by performing the air rinse treatment by supplyingthe sterilized heated air γ containing the hydrogen peroxide gas β intothe bottle 1, the bottle 1 is heated from the inner surface thereof andthe sterilizing effect by the hydrogen peroxide gas β contained in theheated air γ, for example, a bottom portion of the bottle 1, which wasinsufficiently sterilized by the hydrogen peroxide condensed mist αsupplied from the spray tube 59 can be more sufficiently sterilized bythe hydrogen peroxide gas β contained in the heated air γ.

In the illustrated embodiment, although the hydrogen peroxide gas βcontained in the heated air γ is blown into the bottle 1 with the nozzle64 being disposed outside the bottle 1, each nozzle 64 may be arrangedto be vertically movable so that the nozzle 64 enters the bottle 1 whenthe hydrogen peroxide gas β contained in the heated air γ is blown intothe bottle 1. Furthermore, the nozzle 64 may be inserted into the bottle1 in the inverted attitude to thereby perform the air rinsing treatmentto thereby remove foreign materials or like.

The grippers 28 disposed between the start end wheel 36 a in theinspection section 8 and the final end wheel 58 b in the sterilizationsection 9 are controlled in their travelling speeds such that theremaining heat of the bottles 1 at the bottle molding process in themolding section 7 is maintained to an extent necessary for thesterilization of the bottles 1 in the sterilization section 9.

That is, as shown in FIG. 13, the servo-motor S1 for driving all thewheels 36 a, 36 b, 36 c in the inspection section 8 so as to bedynamically interlocked with each other is disposed in the inspectionsection 8, and the servo-motor S2 for driving all the wheels 58 a, 58 b,58 c, 58 d, 58 e in the sterilization section 9 and the air rinsesection 96 so as to be dynamically interlocked with each other isdisposed in the sterilization section 9 and the air rinse section 96.

According to the controlling of the servo-motors S1 and S2, thetravelling speed of the grippers 28 are adjusted, and as a result, thebottle 1 gripped by the gripper 28, with the remaining heat at thebottle molding time being maintained to the extent necessary for thesterilization in the sterilization section 9, is conveyed directly belowthe spray tube 59.

Further, the bottle 1 blown with the condensed mist α of the hydrogenperoxide from the spray tube 59 at the sterilization section 9 promptlyreaches the air rinse section 96.

It may be desired that the temperature of the bottle 1 directly belowthe spray tube 59 is maintained more than 50° C. By maintaining thetemperature more than 50° C., the sterilization effect by the condensedmist α of the hydrogen peroxide can be properly achieved. Further,although it is hard to sterilize the bottle neck portion 1 a, thethickened portion such as bottle bottom portion and the portions such asbottle bottom portion to which the condensed mist hardly reaches,according to the present embodiment, since in the bottle 1 immediatelyafter the molding process, these portions are highly heated, theseportions can be effectively sterilized even by a small amount of thecondensed mist α.

In the beverage filling apparatus of this embodiment, there is providedpositive pressure creating means for making the pressure in theinspection section 8 higher than the pressure in the molding section 7and the sterilization section 9 as like as in the first embodimentmentioned hereinbefore. Since this positive pressure creating means hassubstantially the same structure as that of the first embodiment, thedetails thereof are omitted herein

As shown in FIG. 13, an aseptic water rinse section 91 is coupled withthe air rinse section 96. This aseptic water rinse section 91 is alsoentirely covered by a chamber 91 a. A partition wall, not shown, isdisposed between the chamber 91 and the chamber 9 a of the sterilizationsection 9 and a bottle passing hole is formed to this partition wall.

A wheel row coupled with the final end wheel 58 e of the bottletravelling means on the sterilization section side is connected to thechamber 91 a of the aseptic water rinse section 91. More specifically,this wheel row includes three wheels 92 a, 92 b, 92 c, around which abottle travelling path is formed.

Furthermore, grippers 28 similar to those shown in FIG. 4 are arrangedaround the start end wheel 92 a and the final end wheel 92 c, and aplurality of grippers 20, such as shown in FIGS. 15A and 15B, are alsoarranged around the intermediate wheel 92 b having a larger diameter, atconstant pitches.

The gripper 20 has a pair of clamp pieces 20 a and 20 b for clamping theneck portion 1 a of the bottle 1 from the outside side thereof. Thepaired clamp pieces 20 a, 20 b are supported to the base portion 21 bymeans of vertical pins 22, 22 to be rotatable and always pulled in theclosing direction by means of tension spring 23. According to suchstructure, as shown in FIG. 15B, the paired clamp pieces 20 a, 20 balways function to grip the neck portion 1 a of the bottle 1. Acolumn-shaped vertical shaft pin 24 is attached to the base portion 21in a manner such that the vertical shaft pin 24 is slidable in theradial direction of the start end wheel 19 a with the shaft pin 24 beingfitted into recessed portions formed to root portions of the clamppieces 20 a and 20 b. A cam follower 25 is coupled with the verticalshaft pin 24 also to be slidable in the radial direction of the startend wheel 19 a.

Inside the intermediate wheel 92 b is arranged a cam, not shown, whichis engaged with the cam follower 25 so as to slide the cam follower 25and the vertical shaft pin 24 in the radial direction of the start endwheel 19 a at the predetermined position and which acts to switch theclamp pieces 20 a and 20 b of the gripper 20 to the opened position orclosed position thereof. When the intermediate wheel 92 b is rotated andthe gripper 20 is moved so as to oppose to the bottle 1 gripped by thegripper 28 of the wheel 92 a, the clamp pieces 20 a and 20 b of thegripper 20 grips bottle neck portion 1 a at the lower side of thesupport ring 5 and conveys the bottle 1 in the vertically suspendedstate.

Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 15A and 15B, the gripper 20 is providedwith horizontal pivot 26 projecting in the circumferential direction ofthe start end wheel 19 a, and the gripper 20 is held to the start endwheel 19 a through the horizontal pivot 26. On the other hand, as shownin FIG. 16, another cam 27 circularly curved with the turning shaft ofthe start end wheel 19 a being the center of the curvature is alsodisposed so that each of the grippers 20 contacts this cam 27. Whenintermediate wheel 92 b is turned and the gripper 20 receiving thebottle 1 is turned, the gripper 20 is vertically inverted together withthe bottle 1 with the horizontal pivot 26 being the fulcrum under theguidance of the cam 27. According to such motion, as shown in FIGS. 14Aand 14B, the bottle 1 is vertically inverted with the neck portion 1 athereof being directed downward.

As shown in FIG. 14A, the bottle 1 passing through the interior of theair rinse section 96 travels in the aseptic water rinse section 91 withbeing gripped in the vertical attitude by the gripper 28 around thestart end wheel 92 a, and as shown in FIG. 14B, is then inverted in itsposition by the gripper 20 of the intermediate wheel 92 b. At this time,the hot water nozzle 93 is inserted into the bottle 1 through the bottleneck portion 1 a to thereby feed the hot water “w” of the aseptic waterinto the bottle 1. The hot water “w” cleans the inside of the bottle 1and then flows out of the bottle 1 from the neck portion 1 a thereof.After the cleaning of the bottle 1 by the hot water “w”, the bottle 1 isagain turned to the vertically normal position by the gripper 20 of theintermediate wheel 92 b, is received by the gripper 28 of the final endwheel 92 c, and is then conveyed to the subsequent beverage fillingsection 10.

The hot water “w” is aseptic water of the temperature of about 60 to 70°C., but it may be of normal temperature.

As shown in FIG. 16, the beverage filling section 10 is connected to theaseptic water rinse section 91. The beverage filling section 10 is alsoentirely covered with the chamber 10 a, and a partition wall, not shown,is disposed between this chamber 10 a and the chamber 91 a of theaseptic water rinse section 91. The partition wall is formed with abottle passing hole.

A wheel row coupled with the final end wheel 92 c as travelling meansfor the bottle 1 on the aseptic water rinse section side is connected,as shown in FIG. 13, to the inside of the chamber 10 a of the beveragefilling section 10.

More specifically, this wheel row includes six wheels 94 a, 94 b, 94 c,94 d, 94 e, 94 f, around which a bottle travelling path is formed.

Furthermore, grippers 28 similar to those shown in FIG. 4 are arrangedaround the respective wheels 94 a, 94 b, 94 c, 94 d, 94 e and 94 f.

In the chamber 10 a of the beverage filling section 10, the grippers 28transfer the bottles 1 subsequently from the start end wheel 94 a to thefinal end wheel 94 f while gripping the bottle neck portions 1 a andturning around the respective wheels 94 a, 94 b, 94 c, 94 d, 94 e and 94f. According to such operation, the bottles 1 continuously travel in thebeverage filling section 10 from the start end wheel 94 a toward thefinal end wheel 94 f, and during the travelling, since the gripper 28grips the neck portion 1 a of the bottle 1 by the paired clamp pieces 28a and 28 b, the bottle 1 travels in the normally vertically suspendedattitude.

The beverage filling machine is disposed in the chamber 10 a of thebottle 1 is filled with the preliminarily sterilized beverage “a” fromthe nozzle 95 of the beverage filling machine. This nozzle 95 istravelled in synchronous with the bottle 1, and accordingly, a constantamount of beverage “a” fills the bottle 1 during the travelling of thebottle 1 and the nozzle 95.

Furthermore, a capper is disposed to a predetermined position around theintermediate wheel 94 e on the downstream side of the beverage fillingmachine. As shown in FIG. 3O, the cap 2 is applied by the neck portion 1a of the bottle 1, thus sealing the bottle 1.

The bottle 1 filled with the beverage “a” and sealed by the cap 2 isthen released from the gripper 28 of the final end wheel 94 f anddischarged externally from the beverage filling apparatus from an outletof the chamber 10 a.

Incidentally, as shown in FIG. 13, a servo-motor S3 for driving all thewheels 92 a, 92 b, 92 c in the aseptic water rinse section 91 so as tobe dynamically interlocked with each other is disposed in the asepticwater rinse section 91, and three servo-motors S4, S5 and S6 for drivingthe wheels 94 a, 94 b, 94 c, 94 d, 94 e and 94 f in the beverage fillingsection 10 so as to be dynamically interlocked in predeterminedcombinations thereof are disposed in the beverage filling section 10. Inthese servo-motors S4, S5 and S6, the servo-motor S4 drives the wheels94 a and 94 b disposed on the upstream side of the intermediate wheel 94b for which the beverage filling machine is provided, the servo-motor S5drives the intermediate wheel 94 c for which the beverage fillingmachine is provided, and the servo-motor S6 drives the wheels 94 d, 94 eand 94 f disposed downstream side of the intermediate wheel 94 c forwhich the beverage filling machine is provided.

According to the arrangement mentioned above, even if the respectivewheels and grippers of the inspection section 8, the air rinse section96, the aseptic water rinse section 91 and the beverage filling section10 have the structures different from each other, the grippers of therespective sections can be driven synchronously in accordance with thecontrolling of the servo-motors S1 to S6, and thus, the bottles 1 can besmoothly continuously travelled from the molding section 7 toward thebeverage filling section 10.

Further, in the above second embodiment, although the molding section 7is driven by a generally known electric motor, the wheels and theturntable of the molding section 7 may be also driven by theservo-motor.

The function or operation of the beverage filling apparatus according tothe second embodiment will be described hereunder.

(1) First, the preform 6 such as shown in FIG. 3A is prepared. Thepreform 6 is injection-molded through the injection molding process, andthereafter, is fed into the preform supply machine 11 of the beveragefilling apparatus of this embodiment.

The preform 6 is then supplied into the molding section 7 by means ofconveyer 12 of the preform supply machine.

(2) The preform 6 is conveyed by the conveyer 12 in a verticallystanding position as shown in FIG. 3A is received by the gripper of thestart end wheel 13 a continuously rotating in the molding section 7, andis inverted up-side-down by the gripper of the intermediate wheel 13 b.

The preform 6 in the inverted attitude is applied to the mandrel 17 ofthe first turntable 14 a from the neck portion 1 a of the bottle 1.

The mandrel 17 applied with the preform 6 travels, as shown in FIG. 3C,while revolving, in the heating chamber 16, and then, continuouslytravels in the heating chamber 16, while revolving, together with themandrel 17. Thus, the preform 6 can be uniformly heated to a temperaturecapable of being subjected to the blow molding treatment.

(3) The heated preform 6 is clamped by the blow molding mold 18 as shownin FIG. 3D, and air is blown through the blow nozzle 19 penetrating themandrel 17. Thus, the bottle 1 is molded in the mold 18.

The thus molded bottle 1 is taken out of the mold 18 by opening the mold18 together with the mandrel 17, and as shown in FIG. 3E, is conveyed inthe inverted attitude toward the first turntable 14 a through the sixthturntable 14 f.

(4) The bottle 1 held by the mandrel 17 at the first turntable 14 agrips by the gripper 98 of the start end wheel 19 a, as shown in FIG.3F, in the normally vertical attitude. In this time, the gripper 98grips the portion of the bottle 1 above the support ring 5 of the bottleneck portion 1 a. Subsequently, the bottle 1 is received by the gripper28, as shown in FIG. 4, of the final end wheel 19 b, and at this time,the gripper 28 grips the portion of the bottle 1 below the support ring5 of the bottle neck portion 1 a as shown in FIG. 6.

(5) The gripper 37 of the start end wheel 36 a of the inspection section8 grips the portion of the bottle 1 above the support ring 5 of thebottle neck portion 1 a and receives the bottle 1. This bottle 1 isturned in a state being held by the gripper 37

During this turning motion, as shown in FIG. 3G, the shell portion ofthe bottle 1 is inspected by the bottle shell portion inspection means.In this inspection, the image of the bottle shell portion picked up bythe camera 45 is processed by the image processing device, not shown,and it is discriminated whether any abnormality such as injury, foreignmaterial, discoloration or like exists.

(6) The bottle 1 is transferred to the gripper 28 of the intermediatewheel 36 b from the gripper 37 of the start end wheel 36 a, and then, asshown in FIG. 3H and FIG. 6, is turned by the gripper 28 of theintermediate wheel 36 b while being gripped at the portion below thesupport ring 5 of the bottle neck portion 1.

During this turning motion, as shown in FIG. 3H, the temperature of thebottle 1 is detected by the temperature sensor 46 of the temperaturedetecting means. In this temperature detection, if it does not reach 50°C., for example, it is judged that this bottle 1 is defective product.

(7) Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 3I, the surface condition of thesupport ring 5 of the bottle 1 is inspected by the support ringinspection means. In this inspection, the image of the upper face of thesupport ring 5 picked up by the camera 48 is processed by the imageprocessing device, not shown, and it is discriminated whether anyabnormality such as injury, foreign material, discoloration or likeexists.

(8) Subsequent to the inspection of the support ring 5 of the bottle 1,as shown in FIG. 3J, the surface condition of the upper face 1 d of thebottle neck portion 1 a is inspected by the bottle neck portion upperface inspection means. In this inspection, the image of the upper face 1d of the bottle neck portion 1 a picked up by the camera 50 is processedby the image processing device, not shown, and it is discriminatedwhether any abnormality such as injury, foreign material, discolorationor like exists.

(9) Subsequent to the inspection of the upper face 1 d of the bottleneck portion 1 a, as shown in FIG. 3K, the bottom portion of the bottle1 is inspected. In this inspection, the image of the bottle bottomportion picked up by the camera 52 is processed by the image processingdevice, not shown, and it is discriminated whether any abnormality suchas injury, foreign material, discoloration or like exists.

(10) The bottle 1 subjected to the above respective inspections is heldby the gripper 28 shown in FIG. 8 of the final end wheel 36 c of theinspection section 8. In an event that a signal representing anyabnormality is generated during these various inspections, the gripperreleasing mechanism is operated as shown in FIG. 9 so that the pairedclamp pieces 28 a and 28 b of the gripper 28 are operated from theclosed state shown with two-dot-chain line to the opened state shownwith solid line, thus releasing the defective bottle 1.

According to such operation, the bottle 1 to which any abnormality suchas injury is generated to the shell portion, the bottom portion, theupper face 1 d of the bottle neck portion 1 a, the support ring 5 or thelike is removed from the bottle travelling path. Furthermore, the bottle1 of a temperature such that sufficient sterilization cannot be given tothe bottle 1 even if the sterilization by the hydrogen peroxide iseffected in the following sterilizing process is also removed from thebottle travelling path.

On the other hand, the good bottle as non-defective product is conveyedtoward the sterilization section 9 through the bottle removing sectionbecause the movable cam 53 a is retained at the position shown in FIG.9A.

(11) The bottle 1 as good product is transferred to the gripper 28 ofthe start end wheel 58 a of the sterilization section 9 from the gripper28 of the final end wheel 36 c of the inspection section 8, and thentransferred to the grippers of the downstream side wheels andcontinuously travelled.

When the bottle 1 as good product is travelled around the intermediatewheel 58 b in the state being gripped by the gripper 28, as shown inFIG. 3L, the bottle 1 passes directly below the spray tube 59.Accordingly, the condensed mist α of the hydrogen peroxide ejected fromthe spray tube 59 is sprayed toward the bottle 1 to thereby sterilizethe inner and outer surfaces of the bottle 1. As mentioned above, sinceonly the bottles 1 judged as good products to which proper heat remainsreach, these bottles 1 are properly sterilized by the condensed mist αof the hydrogen peroxide and then conveyed downstream side.

(12) The bottle 1 sterilized by the condensed mist α of the hydrogenperoxide is travelled around the intermediate wheel 58 c in the mannerof being gripped by the gripper 28, and in this time, as shown in FIG.3M, the hydrogen gas β and the hot air γ are blown from the nozzle 64.Accordingly, the inner and outer surfaces of the bottle 1 are subjectedto the air rinsing treatment to thereby remove the hydrogen peroxideadhering to the inner and outer surfaces of the bottle 1.

(13) As shown in FIG. 12, the positive pressure creating means isdisposed on the way of the travelling path from the molding section 7 tothe sterilization section 9 through the inspection section 8. Accordingto the location of such positive pressure creating means, extra amountsof the condensed mist α of the hydrogen peroxide and the gas β flowinginto the chamber 9 a of the sterilization section 9 are exhaustedoutside the chamber 9 a through the ducts 86 and 89. On the other hand,the cleaned air flowing into the chamber 8 a of the inspection section 8flows toward the chamber 7 a of the molding section 7 and the atmosphereshutoff chamber 79 so as to prevent the contaminated air or aircontaining the hydrogen peroxide from flowing into the chamber 8 a ofthe inspection section 8.

Furthermore, even if the air is sucked into the chamber 8 a of theinspection section 8 from the chamber 7 a of the molding section by thetravelling of the bottle 1, this air is prevented from flowing into thechamber 9 a of the sterilization section 9 by the exhaust from theatmosphere shutoff chamber 79, so that the inside of the sterilizationsection 9 can be effectively prevented from being contaminated.

(14) During the conveyance of the bottle 1 toward the downstream side ofthe sterilization section 9 though the inspection section 8, if anyabnormality is generated on the molding section side and the wheel rowon the molding section side is emergently stopped, as shown in FIG. 7,the piston rod 42 a of the piston-cylinder assembly 42 is contracted sothat the paired clamp pieces 37 a and 37 b now in closed state areopened by about 180 degrees as shown in FIG. 7. According to thisoperation, the interference of the gripper 28 mounted to the final endwheel 19 b of the molding section 7 with the gripper 37 mounted to thestart end wheel 36 a of the inspection section 8 can be prevented fromcausing.

Furthermore, since the start end wheel 36 a and the following wheel rowsare continuously rotated, the bottle 1 introduced into the inspectionsection 8 is continuously travelled toward the downstream side.Accordingly, the normally molded bottle 1 is inspected in the inspectionsection 8, and the bottle 1 passing through the inspection section 8 isconveyed toward the sterilization section 9, thus preventing wastebottles 1 from generating. In addition, even if the molding section 7stops the operation, the inspection section 8 and the following sectionscan be operated, so that the bottle 1 can be continuously travelled inthe downstream side direction following the sterilization section 9, andhence, the excessive adhesion of the hydrogen peroxide by the stoppingof the bottle 1 in the sterilization section 9 and the defectivesterilization function due to the cooling of the bottle 1 can beeffectively prevented. Thus, the only the good bottles 1 can be filledwith the beverage.

(15) The bottle 1 blown with the condensed mist α of the hydrogenperoxide in the sterilization section 9 enters the air rinse section 96and is subjected to the air rinsing treatment around the wheel 58 c asshown in FIG. 14A. Accordingly, the excessive amount of the hydrogenperoxide adhering to the bottle 1 can be removed therefrom.

(16) The bottle 1 subjected to the air rinsing treatment is conveyedinto the aseptic water rinse section 91 from the gripper 28 of the finalend wheel 58 e of the air rinse section 96 and then travelled around thewheels 92 a, 92 b and 92 c in the aseptic water rinse section 91 fromthe upstream side toward the downstream side. The bottle 1 is theninverted up-side-down by the gripper 20 of the intermediate wheel 92 b,and as shown in FIG. 14B, the interior of the bottle 1 is cleaned withthe aseptic hot water “w”. Thus, the excessive hydrogen peroxideadhering to the inner surface of the bottle 1 can be removed.

In the case where the air in the air rinse section does not include thegas β of the hydrogen peroxide, although such aseptic water rinsingtreatment may be eliminated, even in such case, the aseptic waterrinsing treatment may be performed as occasion demands. The bottle 1after the cleaning is returned to the normal vertical position with thebottle neck portion 1 a being directed upward by the inverting movementof the gripper 20.

(17) The bottle 1 subjected to the aseptic water rinsing treatment isconveyed to the beverage filling section 10, and at the time oftravelling around the wheel 94 c with being gripped by the gripper 28, apredetermined amount of the beverage “a” is fed from the nozzle 95 ofthe beverage filling machine, as shown in FIG. 3N.

(18) The bottle 1 filled up with the beverage “a” travels around thewheel 94 e with the neck portion 1 a thereof being gripped by thegripper 28, and during the travelling, the cap 2 is applied to the neckportion 1 a by the capper as shown in FIG. 3O. According to thisoperation, the bottle 1 is sealed as beverage package, which is thenconveyed outward the beverage filling apparatus.

Further, in the embodiment of FIG. 13, it may be possible to eliminatethe air rinse section 96 and directly connect the aseptic water rinsesection 91 to the sterilization section 9. In such arrangement, thebottle 1 sterilized in the sterilization section 9 is immediately sentto the aseptic water rinse section 91 so as to be subjected to thehot-water rinsing treatment of the heated aseptic water. According tothis operation, although the sterilization by the hydrogen peroxide inthe sterilization section 9 is relatively difficult, aspergillus sporesuch as ascomycontina relatively weak to heat may be sterilized by theaseptic hot water. Thus, beverage which is liable to be corrupted by theaspergillus spore can fill the bottle, which is then stored.

Third Embodiment 3

In this third embodiment, a container or vessel to be sterilized is abottle 1 shown in FIG. 20B, which is obtained by blow-forming thepreform 6 formed of PET shown in FIG. 20A. The preform 6 has a bottomedtubular shape having a mouth portion 1 a as like as the bottle 1.

This container is sterilized in a sequence shown in FIG. 20.

First, a preform as shown in FIG. 20A is prepared. The preform 6 isheated so that an entire temperature of the bottle 1 increased to auniform temperature range suitable for the molding of the preform 6, andthereafter, as shown in FIG. 20A, the preform 6 is fed into the mold 18so as to be molded as a bottle 1.

A blow-molding (injection) machine is provided with the mold 18surrounding the preform 6 and the blow nozzle 19 for blowing gas. Thebottle 1 is formed in the mold 18 by blowing gas such as air from theblow nozzle 19 into the preform 6 of which temperature is increased tothe suitable temperature range in the mold 18. Thereafter, the mold 18is opened and the bottle 1 is taken out of the mold 18.

In this blow forming process, the temperature of the mold 18 ismaintained at substantially constant temperature, which is a temperatureof the bottle 1 at the time of supplying the condensed mist α of thehydrogen peroxide into the bottle 1 and is appropriately set inaccordance with substance or material of the bottle 1 or shape to bedesired, and this temperature is, for example, 60 to 80° C.

As shown in FIG. 20A, the mold 18 is composed of a mold upper portion 18a corresponding to the mouth portion 1 a of the bottle 1, a mold centralportion 18 b corresponding to the shell portion 1 b of the bottle 1 anda mold bottom portion 18 c corresponding to the bottom portion 1 c ofthe bottle 1, and these mold portions are splittable and are set so asto have temperatures different from each other. For example, thetemperature of the mold upper portion 18 a corresponding to the mouthportion 1 a of the bottle 1 may be set to a temperature lower than thoseof the mold central portion 18 b and mold bottom portion 18 c. Since themouth portion 1 a of the bottle 1 has already been formed to the preform6, if the mouth portion 1 a is excessively heated, the mouth portion 1 amay be deformed. Therefore, such deformation of the mouth portion 1 acan be prevented by setting the temperature of the mold upper portion 18a contacting the mouth portion 1 a to be lower than those of the otherportions, the deformation of the mouth portion 1 a may be effectivelyprevented.

The molding process of the bottle 1 shown in FIG. 20A is performedsynchronously with the travelling of the mold 18 of the blow moldingmachine, the blow nozzle 19 and the preform 6. However, it may bepossible to mold the bottle 1 from the preform 6 at a fixed position bysetting the blow forming machine to the fixed position.

The thus molded bottle 1 is maintained at a predetermined temperature bythe remaining heat at the molding process by the mold 18, and during thefollowing travelling at a predetermined speed, as shown in FIG. 20B, thesurface temperature is detected by the temperature sensors 46, 46. Thistemperature is a preliminarily heating temperature for suitablysterilizing the bottle 1, and it is hence desirable to be more than 50°C. for effectively achieving the desired sterilizing effect by thehydrogen peroxide in the following process.

As the temperature sensors 46, 46, although an infrared ray thermometermay be utilized, for example, other thermometers may be also utilized.These temperature sensors 46, 46 are arranged so as to oppose to thesupport ring of the mouth portion 1 a of the bottle 1 and the bottomportion 1 c thereof as shown in FIG. 20B.

In a case where either one of the temperatures of these two portions ofthe bottle 1 detected by the two temperature sensors 46 and 46 does notreach the predetermined temperature, such bottle 1 is removed asdefective product. Such defective bottle 1 having a temperature notreaching the predetermined temperature may be considered not to besufficiently sterilized even if the bottle 1 is sterilized by thehydrogen peroxide in the following process. On the other hand, thebottle 1 of which temperatures of two portions reach the predeterminedtemperatures will be considered to be sufficiently sterilized when thebottle 1 is sterilized by the hydrogen peroxide in the followingprocess. Such bottle 1 is continuously travelled as good product towardthe sterilization section so as to be subjected to the sterilizationprocess as shown in FIG. 20C.

Further, although the two portions of the bottle 1 mentioned aboveopposing to the temperature sensors 46, 46 are portions liable to causecold spots, the number of the temperature sensors to be located is notlimited to two and may be increased or decreased in accordance with theshape and size of the bottle 1, and a kind of the mold, or like. Forexample, only one temperature sensor 46 may be located to the positionopposing to the bottle bottom portion 1 c to which cold spot will beliable to be caused rather than to the portion of the support ring.

After the molding process, the bottle 1 maintaining the preheatingtemperature is travelled at the predetermined speed, and as shown inFIG. 20C, during this travelling, the condensed mist α of the hydrogenperoxide as a sterilizing agent is blown to thereby sterilize the bottle1. The bottle 1 of the temperature not reaching the preheatingtemperature is removed before the sterilization process shown in FIG.20C, so that only the bottle 1 maintaining the predetermined preheatingtemperature is subjected to the sterilization process.

Further, the bottle 1 may be supplied for the sterilization process asshown in FIG. 20C by preparing a preliminarily molded bottle 1 withoutconnecting the molding process of the bottle 1 to the sterilizationprocess. In such case, it is necessary to convey the bottle 1 for thesterilization process after heating the bottle 1 to the preheatingtemperature while blowing hot air to the travelling bottle 1. Thesurface temperature of the bottle 1 is measured also by the mannermentioned with reference to FIG. 20B, and the bottle 1 to whichtemperature does not reach the predetermined temperature is removed.

The condensed mist α of the hydrogen peroxide is generated by gasifyingthe hydrogen peroxide and then condensing such gasified hydrogenperoxide such as by a mist generating device 61 shown in FIG. 10.

The bottle 1 is travelled with its mouth portion 1 a being directedupward, and the spray tube 59 is arranged at the predetermined positionabove the travelling path, with the opening of the spray tube 59 beingdirected to the mouth portion 1 a of the bottle 1. The condensed mist αof the hydrogen peroxide is continuously blown out towards the mouthportion 1 a of the bottle 1 conveyed along the travelling path from theopening of the spray tube 59, and the sprayed condensed mist α of thehydrogen peroxide flows into the bottle 1 through the mouth portion 1 athereof and sterilizes the inner surface of the bottle 1 and also flowsout of the bottle 1 to thereby sterilize the outer surface of the bottle1.

The condensed mist α of the hydrogen peroxide sprayed from the spraytube 59 adheres by, preferably, an amount of 30 μL/bottle to 150μL/bottle, and more preferably, an amount of 50 μL/bottle to 100μL/bottle.

As mentioned above, it is desirable that the surface temperature of thebottle 1 at the supply time of the condensed mist α of the hydrogenperoxide is more than 50° C. that is the preheating temperature, and forthis purpose, the spray tube 59 is arranged to the position at which thebottle surface temperature can be maintained at a temperature more than50° C. The surface temperature of the bottle at this time will bedetermined on the basis of the heat capacity of the bottle 1, theatmospheric condition around the bottle 1, the heat amount applied bythe mold 18 and so on. In this embodiment, the bottle travelling speedfrom the blow molding machine to the spray tube 59, the mold temperatureat the bottle molding process and so on are set so that the bottlesurface temperature becomes more than 50° C. at the time of supplyingthe condensed mist α of the hydrogen peroxide.

Further, the bottle surface temperature at the time of supplying thecondensed mist α of the hydrogen peroxide is appropriately set inaccordance with substance and shape of the bottle 1, kind of thesterilizing agent, and so on so as to suitably sterilize the bottle 1.It may be not necessary to set the temperature of the entire bottlesurface to be more than 50° C. For example, in a case where thetemperatures of the upper portion 18 a of the mold 18 is lowered morethan those of the central portion 18 b and lower portion 18 c of themold 18 at the time of molding the bottle 1, the temperature of themouth portion 1 a of the bottle 1 may become less than 50° C. In suchcase, according to the present embodiment, since the condensed mist α ofhigh density of the hydrogen peroxide is supplied to the mouth portion 1a of the bottle 1, the mouth portion 1 a can be suitably sterilized.

In the sterilization process shown in FIG. 20C, it may be desired thatthe bottle travelling path is surrounded by a tunnel 60, and bysurrounding the travelling path by the tunnel 60, the condensed mist αof the hydrogen peroxide easily adheres to the outer surface of thebottle 1, thus improving the sterilizing effect to the bottle outersurface.

The bottle 1 of which inner and outer surfaces are sterilized by thecondensed mist α of the hydrogen peroxide is further travelled towardthe air rinse section so as to be subjected to the air rinsing treatmentas shown in FIG. 20D.

In this air rinsing treatment, the nozzle 64 following the travelling ofthe bottle 1 is disposed. The nozzle 64 is inserted into the bottle 1through its mouth portion 1 a while travelling together with the bottle1 at the same speed. Of course, it is possible for the nozzle 64 to bearranged so as to be directed to the mouth portion 1 a of the bottle 1without inserting thereinto.

The hydrogen peroxide gas β conveyed by the sterilized and heated hotair is blown into the bottle 1 through the nozzle 64. This hydrogenperoxide gas β is generated by the air rinse device shown in FIG. 17 andthen supplied to the bottle 1.

The bottle 1 effected with the air rinsing treatment is travelled forreceiving the cleaning process shown in FIG. 20E, but the cleaningprocess may be performed as occasion demands.

In this cleaning process, the bottle 1 is travelled in an invertedupside-down-state, and the nozzle 7 for cleaning is inserted into themouth portion 1 a directed downward, and the heated aseptic water “w” isinjected into the bottle 1 through the nozzle 7. In this manner, thehydrogen peroxide remaining inside the bottle 1 is washed out.

Although it is desirable that the aseptic water “w” is supplied for thecleaning process by being heated to about 60 to 80° C., the asepticwater of normal temperature may be supplied as occasion demands. Theaseptic water supplying time is appropriately set in accordance with thecapacity or shape of the bottle 1 to, for example, 1 to 10 seconds.

After the cleaning of the bottle 1 by the aseptic water “w”, the bottle1 is again inverted to the state of the mouth portion 1 a being directedupward. Thereafter, the cleaned bottle 1 is filled with inner content,and after the filling of the inner content, the bottle 1 is sealed byapplying the cap, not shown, to the mouth portion 1 a, thus forming asealed aseptic package.

Effects attained by the container sterilization method of the presentinvention will be compared with effects attained by the conventionalsterilization method as in the following Table 2.

TABLE 2 H₂O₂mist adhering H₂O₂ adding Number of bacteria Judgment amountamount in adhering on inner H₂O₂ using (μL/ air (gas Log surface ofpreform amount Sterilization No. bottle) density) (mg/L) reduction 10³10⁴ 10⁵ (mL/min) performance Total A1 50 0.0 <3.4    170 ◯ X ΔA2 100 0.0 6.0 ◯◯◯ ◯◯◯ ◯◯ 340 X ◯ Δ A3 150 0.0 >6.0 ◯◯◯ ◯◯◯ ◯◯◯ 510 X

Δ B1 50 3.3 6 ◯◯◯ ◯◯◯ ◯◯ 230 ◯ ◯ ◯ B2 50 5 >6.0 ◯◯◯ ◯◯◯ ◯◯◯ 280 ◯

◯

In the column “No” in the above Table 2, A1, A2, A3, B1, B2 denotesbottle sample numbers, in which A1, A2 and A3 correspond to theconventional sterilization method, and B1 and B2 correspond to the thirdembodiment of the present invention mentioned above.

In the Table 2, the column “H₂O₂ Mist Adhering Amount” represents thehydrogen peroxide mist adhering to the inner surface of the bottle.

The column of “H₂O₂ Adding Amount In Air” represents the gas density ofthe hydrogen peroxide gas added in hot air of the air rinse process.

The column “Log Reduction” represents LRV (Logarithmic Reduction Value)as to B. subtilis spore.

The column of “Bacteria Amount Adhering to Preform Inner Surface”represents the numbers of bacteria adhering to the inner surfaces of thepreforms before the molding of the respective bottles A1, A2, A3, B1,B2, and symbol [◯] shows good sterilization effect and [] showsinsufficient sterilization effect.

In the column of “Judgment”, the term “H2O2 Using Amount” shows theusing amount of the hydrogen peroxide and shows the fact whether thisusing amount is appropriate or not, in which symbol [◯] showsappropriate using amount and [X] shows excessive using amount.

In the column of “Sterilization Performance”, [⊚] shows the sterilizingeffect (LRV) being more than 6, [◯] shows LRV being 6, and [X] LVR beingless than 6. In the column of “Total”, [◯] shows that both the usingamount and the sterilizing performance are good, and [Δ] shows thateither one of the using amount and the sterilizing performance isdefective.

As is apparent from the Table 2, according to the conventional method,the sterilization effect of LRV=6 can be obtained only by using largeamount of the hydrogen peroxide of 340 mL/min. to 510 mL/min. However,according to the method of the present invention, the sterilizationeffect LRV=6, which is the same as that in the conventional method, canbe obtained by using the hydrogen peroxide only of 230 mL/min. to 260mL/min. That is, according to the present invention, substantially thesame sterilization effect as that attained in the conventional methodcan be obtained only by reducing the using amount of the hydraulicperoxide to ½˜⅓ of the conventional method.

The device for performing the method of the third embodiment has astructure shown in FIG. 21.

As shown in FIG. 21, this sterilization device is provided with apreform supply machine 208 for continuously supplying the bottomedpreforms 6 (shown in FIG. 20A) each having a mouth portion 1 a at apredetermined interval, a blow molding machine 209, a bottle sterilizingmachine 210 as sterilizing means for sterilizing the bottle 1 bycontacting the hydrogen peroxide condensed mist α to the molded bottle1, and a filling machine 211 as filling means for cleaning thesterilized bottle 1 and filling the bottle 1 with content such asbeverage and then sealing the bottle 1.

A bottle conveying path is formed by predetermined conveying means alonga line between the preform supplying machine 208 and the filling machine211, and on the conveying path, grippers 28 (FIG. 17) and other membersfor holding and conveying the preforms 6 and the bottles 1 are disposed.

The preform supplying machine 208 is provided with a preform conveyer212 for subsequently supplying the preforms 6 to the blow moldingmachine 209 at predetermined interval. The preforms 6 are fed to theblow molding machine 209 through the preform conveyer 212.

The blow molding machine 209 a heating section 213 for heating thepreform 6 conveyed by the preform conveyer 212 and a molding section 214for heating and forming the heated preform 6 into a bottle 1.

Inside the blow molding machine 209, there is conveying means forreceiving the preform 6 at the final end portion of the preform conveyer212 and molding the preform into the bottle 1, and then conveying thebottle 1 to the succeeding bottle sterilizing machine 210, and on thisconveyer path, the heating section 213, the molding section 214 and soon are disposed.

The conveying means is provided with a first row of wheels 215, 216,217, 218 for conveying the preform 6 from the final end portion of thepreform conveyer 212 to the heating section 213, a conveyer 219 forconveying the preform 6 within the heating section 213, and a second rowof wheels 220, 221, 222, 217 for receiving the heated preform 6 from theconveyer 219 and feeding the preform to the molding section 214, inwhich the preform 6 is molded into the bottle 1, and then feeding themolded bottle 1 to the subsequent sterilizing machine 210. The wheel 217may be commonly utilized between the first wheel row of wheels 215, 216,217, 218 and the second wheel row of wheels 220, 221, 222, 217.

The preform 6 is fed into the blow molding machine 209 by the preformconveyer 212, and thereafter, is transferred to the conveyer 219 throughthe first wheel row of wheels 215, 216, 217, 218, and according to thetravelling of the conveyer 219, the preform 6 is reciprocally moved inthe seating section 213. A heater, now shown, is provided for the wallportion of the heating section 213, so as to heat the preform 6 conveyedby the conveyer 219. The preform 6 heated in the heating section 213 isreceived by the second wheel row of the wheels 220, 221, 222, 217 andthen is transferred to the molding section 214.

The molding section 214 is provided with a mold 18 (FIG. 20A) formolding the heated preform 6 into the bottle 1 and a blow nozzle 19(FIG. 20A) blowing gas into the heated preform 6.

The mold 18 is composed of, as shown in FIG. 20A, the mold upper portion18 a for molding the mouth portion 1 a of the bottle 1, the mold centralportion 18 b for molding the shell portion 1 b of the bottle 1, and themold bottom portion 18 c for molding the bottom portion 1 c of thebottle 1, and the bottle 1 is formed in the mold 18 by blowing gas suchas air into the preform through the blow nozzle 19. The mold 18 moldsthe bottle 1 from the preform 6 while being moved together with thepreform 6 in the circumferential direction of the wheel 221.

The preform 6 is heated by the heating section 213 of the preformsupplying machine 208 and cooled at the time of being molded into thebottle 1 by the mold 18 of the blow molding machine 209. The bottle 1,however, discharged from the mold 18 is travelled around the wheels 222and 217 while keeping the preliminary molding temperature by theremaining heat at the molding time.

A temperature inspection device 238 is provided to a portion between themolding section 214 of the blow molding machine 209 and the subsequentbottle sterilizing machine 210, and a wheel row including wheels 223,224, 225 is disposed within the temperature inspection device 238.

The temperature sensors 46, 46 are arranged to the outer peripheralportion of the wheel 223 contacting the wheel 217 as shown in FIG. 20B.A discharge conveyer 295 such as air conveying device is connected tothe downstream side wheel 225 contacting the wheel 223 through theintermediate wheel 224. The bottle 1, which is judged not to reach thepreliminary molding temperature by the temperature sensors 46, 46 isdischarged outside the conveying path from the discharge conveyer 295.On the other hand, the bottle 1, which is judged to reach thepreliminary molding temperature by the temperature sensors 46, 46 issuccessively travelled along the conveying path and fed to thesubsequent bottle sterilizing machine 210.

The bottle sterilizing machine 210 is further provided with a thirdwheel row including wheels 226, 227 as means for conveying the bottle 1subjected to the temperature inspection as mentioned above and the spraytube 59 as condensed mist supply means for supplying the hydrogenperoxide condensed mist α as the sterilizing agent to the bottle 1.

One or more than one spray tubes 59 may be disposed, and are fixed topredetermined positions along the peripheries of the predeterminedwheels in the third wheel row of wheels 226 and 227. In the illustratedembodiment, although the spray tube 59 is disposed around the final endwheel 227, the spray tube 59 may be disposed around the other wheel.

The condensed mist α is generated by condensing hydrogen peroxidesprayed and heated by the mist generating device 61 shown in FIG. 10.The bottle 1 is conveyed around the wheel 227 with the mouth portion 1 abeing directed downward, and lower end of the spray tube 59 is openedtoward the mouth portion 1 a of the bottle 1. The hydrogen peroxidecondensed mist α is continuously brown out toward the mouth portion 1 aof the bottle 1 from the lower end opening of the spray tube 59. Thehydrogen peroxide condensed mist α is flown into the bottle 1 throughthe mouth portion 1 a of the travelling bottle 1 and sterilizes theinner surface of the bottle 1, and the other hydrogen peroxide condensedmist α also sterilizes the outer surface of the bottle 1.

The amount of the hydrogen peroxide condensed mist α discharged from thespray tube 59 and adhering to the bottle 1 is that mentioned above.

The bottle 1 to which the hydrogen peroxide condensed mist α is suppliedthrough the spray tube 59 is conveyed to the succeeding filling machine211 after the appropriate sterilization process.

The filling machine 211 includes fourth wheel row including wheels 229,230, 231, 232, 234, 235, 236 as means for conveying the bottles 1sterilized in the sterilizing machine 210. An air rinse section 239 forperforming the air-rinsing treatment to the bottle 1 to which thehydrogen peroxide condensed mist α was supplied, a cleaning section 240for cleaning the bottle 1 after the air-rinsing treatment, a filler 241for filling the cleaned bottle 1 with inner content, and a capper 242for applying a cap, not shown, to the bottle 1 after being filled withthe content and then sealing the bottle 1 are disposed in the describedorder along the fourth wheel row.

The air rinse section 239 is provided with the nozzle 64 (FIG. 20D)around the wheel 229. The sterilized hot air γ and the hydrogen peroxidegas β are blown into the bottle 1 through the nozzle 64 (see FIG. 2D).

A plurality of nozzles 64 are arranged so as to correspond to thebottles 1 (1:1) conveyed around the wheel 229, and as shown in FIG. 17,the nozzles 64 are attached to the periphery of the wheel 229 and movedintegrally with the bottle 1 in the circumferential direction of thewheel 229.

In the illustration of FIG. 17, although the nozzles 64 serve to blowthe sterilized hot air γ and the hydrogen peroxide gas β into thebottles 1 from the position outside the bottles 1, the respectivenozzles 64 may be disposed so as to be vertically movable and insertedinto the bottles 1, as shown in FIG. 20D, when the hot air γ and thehydrogen peroxide gas β are blown into the bottles 1.

The hot air γ and the hydrogen peroxide gas β from the nozzles 64 may begenerated by the manner mentioned with reference to FIG. 17.

As mentioned hereinabove, by blowing the sterilized hot air γ and thehydrogen peroxide gas β into the bottle 1 to thereby perform the airrinsing treatment, the bottle 1 can be heated from its inside, and thesterilization effect by the hydrogen peroxide condensed mist α and thehydrogen peroxide gas β can be enhanced. In addition, a portion such asbottom portion 1 c of the bottle 1, which may be insufficientlysterilized by the hydrogen peroxide condensed mist α supplied from thespray tube 59, can be also surely sterilized by the hydrogen peroxidegas β contained in the hot air γ.

Further, the time period for blowing the hot air γ and the hydrogenperoxide gas β will be determined in such a manner that the hydrogenperoxide condensed mist α floating inside the bottle 1 can be completelydischarged and the defective sterilization by the condensed mist α canbe compensated for, and for example, for 20 seconds.

The cleaning section 240 is provided with an inverting mechanism, notshown, disposed around the wheel 231 for vertically inverting the bottle1 and a nozzle 7 (FIG. 20E) for supplying the heated aseptic water tothe bottle 1. A plurality of nozzles 7 are arranged around the wheel 231so as to correspond to the bottles 1 (1:1) conveyed by the wheel 231,and the nozzles 7 are moved integrally with the bottles 1, respectively.The cleaning section 240 is disposed as occasion demands, and hence, itmay be eliminated in location.

Further, since conventional filler and capper are utilized as the filler241 and the capper 242, the descriptions thereof will be eliminatedherein.

Incidentally, this sterilization device is surrounded by a chamber 243,and the interior of this chamber 243 is sectioned into an aseptic zone,non-aseptic zone, and a gray zone positioned intermediately between theaseptic zone and non-aseptic zone. The preform supplying machine 208,the molding machine 209 and the temperature inspection section 238 arearranged in the non-aseptic zone, the bottle sterilizing machine 210 isarranged in the gray zone, and the filling machine 211 is arranged inthe aseptic zone, respectively.

Hereunder, the operation of the sterilization device will be explainedwith reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

First, the preform 6 is fed into the blow molding machine 209 by thepreform conveyer 212. The preform 6 conveyed into the blow moldingmachine 209 is conveyed toward the heating section 213 through the firstwheel row of the wheels 216, 217, 218.

The preform 6 in the heating section 213 is conveyed by the conveyer219, and during the conveyance, is heated such that the entiretemperature of the preform 6 increases to the temperature range suitablefor the molding.

The preform 6 heated in the heating section 213 is conveyed by thesecond wheel row of the wheels 220, 221 toward the molding section 214,in which during the conveyance, the preform 6 is molded by the mold 18and the blow nozzle 19 which are moved together with the preform 6(refer to FIG. 20A).

In the molding section 214 of the sterilization device, the preform 6 ismolded by the mold 18, which is maintained at a predeterminedtemperature. This predetermined temperature is appropriately set inaccordance with the bottle temperature, bottle substance, bottle shapeat the time of supplying the hydrogen peroxide condensed mist α to thebottle 1 mentioned hereinafter, for example, to 60 to 80° C.

The molded bottle 1 is transferred from the second wheel row of wheels221, 222, 217 to the 223, 224, 225 of the temperature inspection section238, and during the travelling around the wheel 223, it is judgedwhether the surface temperature of the bottle 1 reaches thepredetermined preliminarily heating temperature or not, and in the casewhere the temperature of the bottle 1 does not reach the predeterminedpreliminarily heating temperature, such bottle 1 is discharged asdefective product from the wheel 225 by the discharge conveyer 295outside the conveying path, and on the other hand, in the case where thetemperature of the bottle 1 reaches the predetermined preliminarilyheating temperature, such bottle 1 is continuously travelled around thewheel 226 as good product.

The bottle 1 judged to be good product is transferred to the third wheelrow of the wheels 226, 227, by which the bottle 1 is travelled into thesterilizing machine 210.

The predetermined amount of the hydrogen peroxide condensed mist α issupplied through the spray tube 59 into the bottle 1 in the bottlesterilizing machine (FIG. 20B), and during the conveyance of the bottle1, the hydrogen peroxide condensed mist α is continuously supplied. Forthis purpose, the hydrogen peroxide condensed mist α is blown forseveral seconds to the inner and outer surfaces of the bottle 1 duringthe passing of the bottle 1 under the spray tube 59 by the rotation ofthe wheel. Since the surface temperature of the bottle 1 reaching thebottle sterilizing machine 210 is maintained more than 50° C., thebottle 1 can be appropriately sterilized by the hydrogen peroxidecondensed mist α.

The sterilized bottle 1 is transferred from the third wheel row of thewheels 226, 227 to the fourth wheel row of the wheels 229, 230, 231,232, 233, 234, 235, 236 and then travelled in the filling machine 211 bythe fourth row of wheels.

In the filling machine 211, the bottle 1 is first conveyed to the airrinse section 239, in which the nozzle 64 is inserted into each of thebottles 1 around the wheel 229, and the hot air γ and the hydrogenperoxide gas β are supplied into the bottle 1 to thereby perform the airrinsing treatment (FIG. 20D).

After the air rinsing treatment, the bottle 1 is conveyed to thecleaning section 240, in which the bottle is vertically inverted aroundthe wheel 231 by the inverting mechanism, not shown, and the nozzle 7 isinserted into the bottle 1 from the downwardly directed mouth portion 1a thereof to thereby supply the heated aseptic water “w” into the bottle1 through the nozzle 7 (FIG. 20E). In this manner, the hydrogen peroxideremaining in the bottle 1 is washed out. Although the aseptic water “w”has a temperature of 60 to 70° C., it may be normal temperature.

After the cleaning by the aseptic water “w”, the bottle 1 is againvertically inverted so that the mouth portion 1 a thereof is directedupward.

This cleaning section 240 may be eliminated as occasion demands.

Thereafter, the bottle 1 is filled with the content such as beverage,which was subjected to the sterilization treatment, by the filler 241.The bottle 1 with the inner content is applied with the cap, not shown,by the capper 242 for sealing, and then discharged from an outlet of thechamber 243. As mentioned above, since the filler 241 and the capper 242are known ones, explanations of the method of filling the bottle withthe content and the method of sealing the bottle will be omitted herein.

Fourth Embodiment 4

As shown in FIG. 22, a bottle sterilization apparatus of this fourthembodiment is provided with a preliminarily heating device 296 in placeof the preform supply machine 208 and the blow molding machine 209 ofthe sterilization apparatus of the third embodiment.

A wheel row including wheels 276, 277, 278 forming a bottle conveyingpath is disposed to a position corresponding to the preliminarilyheating device 296.

In this wheel row, an air conveying device 279, for example, isconnected to the most upstream side wheel 276 and the molded bottles 1are subsequently supplied. The bottles 1 are conveyed around the wheels276, 277 and 278 by being gripped by grippers similar to those 28 shownin FIG. 4.

Box members 280, each in form of tunnel through which the bottles pass,are provided around the wheels 276, 277 and 278, respectively. Hot airis supplied to each box member 280 from a hot air supply device of thestructure similar to that shown in FIG. 17. The hot air blown into thebox member 280 is directed toward the bottle 1 passing through the boxmember 280 to thereby preliminarily heat the bottle 1. According to thispreliminarily heating, the bottle temperature increases to a temperaturemore than 50° C.

Thereafter, although the bottles 1 are conveyed toward the bottlesterilizing machine 219 to be subjected to the sterilization treatment,before this conveyance, the bottles 1 are inspected in the temperatureinspection section 238 whether the surface temperature of the bottle 1reaches the predetermined preliminarily heating temperature.

The temperature inspection section 238 has a structure similar to thatof the third embodiment and is provided with the wheel row of wheels223, 224, 225, 226 interposed between the wheel 278 of the preliminarilyheating device 296 and the wheel 227 of the bottle sterilizing machine210. The bottles 1 preliminarily heated by the preliminarily heatingdevice 296 are travelled around the wheel 223, and during thistravelling, it is discriminated whether the surface temperature of thebottle 1 reaches the predetermined preliminarily heated temperature. Thebottle 1 of which surface temperature does not reach the predeterminedpreliminarily heated temperature is discharged outside the conveyingpath by the discharge conveyer 295 from the wheel 225 as defectiveproduct. On the contrary, the bottle 1 of which surface temperaturereaches the predetermined preliminarily heated temperature issuccessively travelled as a good product around the wheel 226.

Further, the location of such temperature inspection section 238 isoptional and may be omitted on demand.

The bottle 1 subjected to the temperature inspection is conveyed towardthe bottle sterilizing machine 210. Since the bottle 1 is preliminarilyheated, the sterilizing effect by the hydrogen peroxide condensed mist αsupplied in the sterilizing machine 210 can be improved.

The structures of the sterilization apparatus downstream side of thisbottle sterilizing machine 210 are substantially the same as those inthe sterilization apparatus of the third embodiment, so that the detailsthereof will be omitted herein.

Fifth Embodiment 5

As shown in FIG. 23, a bottle sterilization apparatus of this fifthembodiment is provided with a preliminarily heating device 297 having astructure different from that of the preliminarily heating device 296 ofthe fourth embodiment mentioned above.

That is, another wheel 281 is provided in place of the wheel 277 of thefourth embodiment, and a hot air supplying device of the structuresimilar to that shown in FIG. 11 is arranged around this wheel 281.

The bottle temperature increases to a temperature more than 50° C. bythis hot air supplying device.

Thereafter, although the bottles 1 are conveyed toward the bottlesterilizing machine 210 to be subjected to the sterilization treatment,before this conveyance, the bottles 1 are inspected in the temperatureinspection section 238 whether the surface temperature of the bottle 1reaches the predetermined preliminarily heating temperature.

The temperature inspection section 238 has a structure similar to thatof the third embodiment and is provided with the wheel row of wheels223, 224, 225, 226 interposed between the wheel 278 of the preliminarilyheating device 296 and the wheel 227 of the bottle sterilizing machine210.

The bottles 1 preliminarily heated by the preliminarily heating device296 are travelled around the wheel 223, and during this travelling, itis discriminated whether the surface temperature of the bottle 1 reachesthe predetermined preliminarily heated temperature. The bottle 1 ofwhich surface temperature does not reach the predetermined preliminarilyheated temperature is discharged outside the conveying path by thedischarge conveyer 295 from the wheel 225 as defective product. On thecontrary, the bottle 1 of which surface temperature reaches thepredetermined preliminarily heated temperature is successively travelledas a good product around the wheel 226.

Further, the location of such temperature inspection section 238 isoptional and may be omitted on demand.

The bottle 1 subjected to the temperature inspection is conveyed towardthe bottle sterilizing machine 210. Since the bottle 1 is preliminarilyheated, the sterilizing effect by the hydrogen peroxide condensed mist αsupplied in the sterilizing machine 210 can be improved.

The structures of the sterilization apparatus downstream side of thisbottle sterilizing machine 210 are substantially the same as those inthe sterilization apparatus of the third embodiment, so that the detailsthereof will be omitted herein.

Furthermore, it is to be noted that the present invention is not limitedto the described embodiments and many other changes and modificationsmay be made.

For example, the container to which the beverage filling apparatus ofthe present invention is applicable is not limited to a PET bottle, andthe present invention may be applied to various resin containers. Inaddition, as the beverage, liquids containing particular material,agglomerate material or like, or high viscosity material other thansimple liquid may fill the container. Furthermore, the bottle may bemolded by direct blow molding method, injection molding method withoutbeing limited to the injection blow molding method.

Still furthermore, the cleaning of the bottle by the aseptic water isnot limited to a method performed while flowing the aseptic water. Theconveying means for conveying the bottles is not limited to the wheelconveying device mentioned above, and various conveying devices capableof conveying the bottles at a predetermined conveying speed inaccordance with the bottle molding order, such as air conveying device,belt conveying device, bucket conveying device and the like may beutilized.

Furthermore, the sterilizing method and sterilizing devices utilized inthe beverage filling method and beverage filling apparatus according tothe present invention may take the following modes or examples.

(1) Mode 1

This mode 1 for the sterilization method includes: removing a containerhaving temperature not reaching predetermined temperature by performingthe container temperature inspection while travelling the container;blowing the hydrogen peroxide condensed mist toward the mouth portion ofthe container through the spray tube disposed at the predeterminedposition while travelling the container having the predeterminedtemperature; and blowing the hydrogen peroxide gas into the containerthrough the nozzle while moving the nozzle so as to follow the mouthportion of the container.

According to this mode 1, only the containers of which temperaturereaches a predetermined temperature can be travelled toward thesterilization section to be subjected to the suitable sterilizationtreatment by the hydrogen peroxide, and accordingly, it becomes possibleto prevent the content from filling the container which isinsufficiently sterilized. Furthermore, since the hydrogen peroxide gasis supplied after the supplying of the hydrogen peroxide condensed mist,the container can be suitably sterilized without increasing the flowrate and consuming amount of the hydrogen peroxide and the hydrogenperoxide condensed mist even if the travelling speed of the container isincreased for enhancing the productivity of the aseptic packages.

(2) Mode 2

This mode 2 includes a container sterilization method in whichpreliminarily heating is performed by remaining heat at the molding timeof the container in the container sterilization method of the mode 1.

According to this mode 2, the container can be preheated withoutadditionally preparing a heat source for preliminary heat, andtherefore, the heat energy becomes effectively usable.

(3) Mode 3

This mode 3 includes a container sterilization method in which thehydrogen peroxide gas is a gas obtained by heating and gasifying thehydrogen peroxide condensed mist by hot air in the containersterilization method of the mode 1 or mode 2.

According to this mode 3, the hydrogen peroxide gas having a suitabledensity can be supplied to the container without being condensed, andtherefore, the hydrogen peroxide can be prevented from falling down intothe container and the container can be sufficiently sterilized.

(4) Mode 4

This mode 4 includes a container sterilization method in which thecontainer is cleaned by the aseptic water after the blowing of thehydrogen peroxide gas into the container in the container sterilizationmethod described in any one the mode 1, mode 2 or mode 3.

According to this mode 4, the hydrogen peroxide used for thesterilization can be effectively removed from the container.

(5) Mode 5

This mode 5 includes the container sterilization apparatus provided withconveying means for conveying the container along the predeterminedpath, and including; preliminarily heating means for preliminarilyheating the container travelling along the conveying path to apredetermined temperature; a temperature sensor for inspecting whether atemperature of the preliminarily heated bottle reaches the predeterminedtemperature; removing means for removing the container of whichtemperature does not reach the predetermined temperature from theconveying path; a spray tube for blowing hydrogen peroxide condensedmist from a predetermined position toward a mouth portion of thecontainer of which temperature reaches the predetermined temperature;and a nozzle through which the hydrogen peroxide gas is blown into thecontainer while following the container travelling along the conveyingpath, the above means and members being arranged along the conveyingpath.

According to this mode 5, only the container of which temperaturereaches the predetermined temperature is travelled toward thesterilization section in which the container can be appropriatelysterilized by the hydrogen peroxide, and accordingly, it becomespossible to prevent the content from filling the container which isinsufficiently sterilized. Furthermore, since the hydrogen peroxide gasis supplied after the supplying of the hydrogen peroxide condensed mist,the container can be suitably sterilized without increasing the flowrate and consuming amount of the hydrogen peroxide and the hydrogenperoxide condensed mist (M) even if the travelling speed of thecontainer is increased for enhancing the productivity of the asepticpackages.

(6) Mode 6

This mode 6 includes the container sterilization apparatus provided withthe container molding machine disposed upstream side of the spray tubeof the conveying path commonly serves as the preliminarily heating meansin the container sterilization apparatus described in the above mode 5.

According to this mode 6, the preliminarily hating utilizes theremaining heat in the container molding process, and accordingly, theenergy can be effectively utilized without separately preparing a heatsource for the preliminary heating.

(7) Mode 7

This mode 7 includes the container sterilization apparatus provided withthe container preliminarily hating device on the upstream side of thespray tube in the container sterilization apparatus described in theabove mode 5.

According to this mode 7, the preliminary heating of the container canbe surely performed.

(8) Mode 8

This mode 8 includes the container sterilization apparatus, in which thehydrogen peroxide gas is generated by heating the hydrogen peroxidecondensed mist with hot air, in the container sterilization apparatusdescribed in any one of the above modes 5 to 7.

According to this mode 8, the hydrogen peroxide gas with proper densitycan be supplied to the container without being condensed, and therefore,the container can be suitably sterilized while preventing the hydrogenperoxide from dropping in the container.

(9) Mode 9

This mode 9 includes the container sterilization apparatus provided withthe cleaning means for cleaning the interior of the container by theaseptic water on the downstream side of the nozzle for blowing thehydrogen peroxide gas, in the container sterilization apparatusdescribed in any one of the above modes 5 to 8.

According to this mode 9, the hydrogen peroxide utilized for thesterilization can be effectively removed from the container.

1. A beverage filling method comprising the steps of: forming a bottle(1) from a heated preform (6) through a blow molding process; blowinghydrogen peroxide mist or gas to the bottle (1) within a time in whichheat applied to the preform (6) remains; filling the bottle (1) withbeverage (a); and then sealing the bottle (1); wherein all the steps ofmolding the bottle (1) from the heated preform (6) through the blowmolding process to the beverage filling and bottle sealing process areperformed while continuously travelling the bottle (1); during thesterilization process, the bottle (1) is travelled with a neck portion(1 a) directed upward, a lower end of a spray tube (59) is opened towardthe neck portion (1 a) of the bottle (1); a part of the mist or gas ofthe hydrogen peroxide supplied into the spray tube (59) is continuouslyblown toward the bottle neck portion (1 a) through a nozzle hole formedto the lower end of the spray tube (59) so that the blown mist or gas ofthe hydrogen peroxide flows into the bottle (1) from the neck portion (1a) of the bottle (1) and sterilizes the inner surface of the bottle (1);and a remaining part of the mist or gas of the hydrogen peroxidesimultaneously flows outside of the bottle (1) so as to sterilize theouter surface of the bottle (1).
 2. The beverage filling methodaccording to claim 1, wherein the bottle (1) is subjected to anair-rinse treatment after the blowing of the hydrogen peroxide mist orgas into the bottle (1), and the bottle (1) is then filled with thebeverage (a) and sealed.
 3. The beverage filling method according toclaim 2, wherein the bottle (1) is subjected to a rinse treatment withaseptic water after the air-rinse treatment, and the bottle (1) is thenfilled with the beverage (a) and sealed.
 4. The beverage filling methodaccording to claim 1, wherein the bottle (1) is subjected to a rinsetreatment with aseptic water after the air-rinse treatment with asepticair containing hydrogen peroxide gas, and the bottle (1) is then filledwith the beverage (a) and sealed.
 5. The beverage filling methodaccording to claim 1, wherein the bottle (1) is subjected to a rinsetreatment with heated aseptic water after the blowing of the hydrogenperoxide mist or gas into the bottle (1), and the battle (1) is thenfilled with the beverage (a) and sealed.
 6. The beverage filling methodaccording to claim 1, wherein a traveling path is provided so that themolded bottle (1) is continuously travelled in to a section at which thesealing of the bottle (1) is performed, the travelling path being formedfrom a wheel row around which grippers (28) are arranged, and the bottle(1) is transferred from an upstream side wheel to a downstream sidewheel in a state that a neck portion (1 a) of the bottle is grasped bythe gripper (28) around the respective wheels while revolving.
 7. Thebeverage filling method according to claim 1, wherein while thesterilization process, the bottle (1) travels in the tunnel (60),thereby mist or gas of the hydrogen peroxide is uniformly supplied tothe outer surface of the bottle (1).
 8. A beverage filling apparatuscomprising: a molding section (7) for molding a bottle (1) from a heatedpreform (6) through a blow molding process; a sterilization section (9)for sterilizing the bottle (1) molded in the molding section (7) withhydrogen peroxide mist or hydrogen peroxide gas; a filling section (10)for filling the bottle (1) sterilized in the sterilization section (9)with beverage (a) and then sealing the bottle (1), the molding section(7), the sterilization section (9) and the filling section (10) beingcoupled continuously with each other; bottle travelling means disposedfor continuously travelling the bottle (1) on a travelling path from themolding section to the filling section through the sterilizationsection, wherein the bottle travelling means is provided with wheels (19a, 19 b, 36 a, 36 b, 36 c, 58 a, 58 h, 58 c, 58 d) disposed in a rowfrom the molding section (7) toward the filling section (10);characterized in that grippers (28) turn around the wheels whilegripping the bottle neck portion (1 a) and transfer the bottle (1) froman upstream side wheel to a downstream side wheel; the bottle (1) istravelled with a neck portion (1 a) directed upward; a lower end of aspray tube (59) is opened toward the neck portion (1 a) of the bottle(1), a part of the mist or gas of the hydrogen peroxide supplied intothe spray tube (59) is continuously blown toward the bottle neck portion(1 a) through the spray tube (59) so that the blown mist or gas of thehydrogen peroxide flows into the travelling bottle (1), and sterilizesthe inner surface of the bottle (1), and a remaining part of the mist orgas of the hydrogen peroxide flows outside of the bottle (1) so as tosterilize simultaneously the outer surface of the bottle (1).
 9. Thebeverage filling apparatus according to claim 8, wherein an air-rinsesection (96) for air-rinsing, with aseptic air, the bottle (1)sterilized in the sterilization section (9) is further disposed betweenthe sterilization section (9) and the filling section (10).
 10. Thebeverage filling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an asepticwater rinse section (91) for rinsing, with heated aseptic water, thebottle (1) sterilized in the sterilization section (9) is furtherdisposed between the sterilization section (9) and the filling section(10).
 11. The beverage filling apparatus according to claim 9, whereinan aseptic water rinse section (91) is disposed between the air-rinsesection (96) and the filling section (10), wherein air containinghydrogen peroxide gas is preferably blown against the bottle (1) in theair-rinse section (96).
 12. The beverage filling apparatus according toclaim 8, wherein the wheels are sectioned into a desired number of rows,each of which is driven by an independent servo-motor (S1-S2).
 13. Thebeverage filling apparatus according to claim 8, wherein gripperinterference prevention means is provided for preventing interferencebetween grippers (28) at a time of stopping one or the molding section(7) side wheel and the inspection section (8) side wheel adjacent to themolding section (7) side wheel.
 14. The beverage filling apparatusaccording to claim 8, wherein an atmosphere shutoff chamber (79) isdisposed between a chamber (8 a) of the inspection section (8) and achamber (9 a) of the sterilization section (9), clean air is suppliedinto the chamber (8 a) of the inspection section (8) by air supply means(83), and air is discharged from the atmosphere shut off chamber (79) bydischarge means (86).
 15. The beverage filling apparatus according toclaim 14, wherein the discharge means (86), for discharging outside thehydrogen peroxide mist or gas from the chamber (9 a) of thesterilization section (9), is disposed at a portion at which the chamber(9 a) of the sterilization section (9) contacts the atmosphere shutoffchamber (79), or wherein an air nozzle forming an air curtain isdisposed at a portion at which the chamber (9 a) of the sterilizationsection (9) contacts the atmosphere shutoff chamber (79).
 16. Thebeverage filling method according to claim 2, wherein a traveling pathis provided so that the molded bottle (1) is continuously travelled into a section at which the sealing of the bottle (1) is performed, thetravelling path being formed from a wheel row around which grippers (28)are arranged, and the bottle (1) is transferred from an upstream sidewheel to a downstream side wheel in a state that a neck portion (1 a) ofthe bottle is grasped by the gripper (28) around the respective wheelswhile revolving.
 17. The beverage filling method according to claim 3,wherein a traveling path is provided so that the molded bottle (1) iscontinuously travelled in to a section at which the sealing of thebottle (1) is performed, the travelling path being formed from a wheelrow around which grippers (28) are arranged, and the bottle (1) istransferred from an upstream side wheel to a downstream side wheel in astate that a neck portion (1 a) of the bottle is grasped by the gripper(28) around the respective wheels while revolving.
 18. The beveragefilling method according to claim 4, wherein a traveling path isprovided so that the molded bottle (1) is continuously travelled in to asection at which the sealing of the bottle (1) is performed, thetravelling path being formed from a wheel row around which grippers (28)are arranged, and the bottle (1) is transferred from an upstream sidewheel to a downstream side wheel in a state that a neck portion (1 a) ofthe bottle is grasped by the gripper (28) around the respective wheelswhile revolving.
 19. The beverage filling method according to claim 5,wherein a traveling path is provided so that the molded bottle (1) iscontinuously travelled in to a section at which the sealing of thebottle (1) is performed, the travelling path being formed from a wheelrow around which grippers (28) are arranged, and the bottle (1) istransferred from an upstream side wheel to a downstream side wheel in astate that a neck portion (1 a) of the bottle is grasped by the gripper(28) around the respective wheels while revolving.